26-05-2025
‘BPSCL yet to pay fine, curb pollution from fly ash pond'
Bokaro: The Bokaro Power Supply Company Limited (BPSCL) is yet to pay the Rs 2.05 crore fine imposed on it by the Jharkhand State Pollution Control Board (JSPCB) in early April for environmental degradation from its fly ash pond inside Bokaro Steel Plant (BSL).
Even though 50 days have passed since JSPCB's notice, all six of its fly ash pond compartments remain filled. Ash laden water continues to overflow to Garga river, and onwards to Damodar from the cooling pond. While Jamshedpur (West) MLA Saryu Roy has blamed BSL and BPSCL for their lackadaisical approach.
JSPCB member secretary Rajiv Lochan Bakshi said BPSCL was yet to implement preventive measures despite the situation worsening. BPSCL CEO Sudhir Kumar Jha, said, "We are working on strengthening the dyke and outlet channel to stop the flow of fly ash into the cooling pond. ISM-Dhanbad will assess the fly ash pond and provide us consultancy for its better functioning." TNN
