SAMBALPUR: Even as the cause of death of saplings in Hirakud Command Area is being debated, former MP of Sambalpur, Bhabani Hota said extreme pollution levels in water and toxicity could be a reason. Hota told medipersons on Thursday that according to a study of Sambalpur University in the 90’s, massive toxic effluents were being released into the reservoir by industries upstream. These effluents had high content of lead and mercury which ultimately found their way into the agricultural fields through water discharged in the canal system, he added.

SAMBALPUR: The trouble seems far from over. Drought, untimely rain, flood and now hailstorm, the vegetable growers of western Odisha cannot but blame their fate. For the last three days, the region has been experiencing rain with reports of hailstorm being received from Deogarh, Jharsuguda, Bargarh besides Sambalpur.

BHUBANESWAR: The year has been as challenging as it could be on the health front with public health concerns coupled with a belligerent medical workforce keeping the Government and the Health Department on their toes for a substantial part of 2011. Dengue raised its ugly head in a disastrous manner for the first time in the State in August claiming over 30 lives and affecting more than 1,300 people across majority of the districts.

SAMBALPUR: Normal life in Sambalpur has been paralysed under the impact of intense cold-wave that has swept across the region where mercury level plunged below normal for the last one week. On Tuesday, the minimum temperature was 8.3 degree C, while it was 7.7 on Wednesday. Thursday saw the lowest temperature of the season in the district at 6.7 degree C while Friday was slightly better off at 7.1. On Sunday, the temperature hovered around 7.6.

BHUBANESWAR: Just nine urban centres of the State can boast of a population of one lakh and more. None has touched the one million mark.
According to Census 2011 provisional figures, even the fast growing Bhubaneswar is not a million population City, the head count standing at 8,81,988 persons residing in its limits.

Sambalpur: The Odisha State Pollution Control Board (OSPCB) and the district administration on Monday sealed four kilns and the cold rolling mill (CRM) complex of Bhusan Steel and Power at Thelkuli, about 40 km from here.

It was alleged that the kilns 1, 2, 4 and 7 and the CRM complex are polluting beyond the norms creating hazards for environment and the locals are the worst sufferers.
The authorities of the OSPCB in Bhubaneswar passed notification for the closure of the above four kilns and the CRM on October 12, that reached the regional office here on October 14.

The Orissa State Pollution Control Board has issued closure notice to 10 sponge iron units of the Bhushan Group on the charge of violating pollution control norms, official sources said.

Bhushan Steel Ltd’s plant at Meramandali in Dhenkanal district has been directed to close down operation of six of eight 500 tonne per day capacity klins, the coke oven plant and oxygen plant for not conforming to pollution control norms as prescribed by the Pollution Control Board, the sources said.

BHUBANESWAR: An inter-ministerial Central team estimated crop loss up to 80 per cent due to the recent spate of floods in the State.
“The kharif crop loss varies from place to place. It could be about 50 to 80 per cent in Sambalpur and Jajpur,” M C Diwakar, Director, Directorate of Rice Development, Ministry of Agriculture, said.

Bhubaneswar: The inter-ministerial Central team on Wednesday said that up to 80 percent crop loss was estimated due to floods that had also caused large-scale damage to kuchha houses.

The crop loss varies from place to place. It could be about 50 to 80 percent in Sambalpur and Jajpur respectively. Agricultural fields were submerged by flood water for over a week.
Therefore, there is no chance of getting any return from cultivation, M C Diwakar, director, Directorate of Rice Development, ministry of agriculture, Patna, said.

Farmer Prasanta Bhoi was getting ready for dinner when he heard a loud sound. It was that of water moving, and growing louder. “It became a roar, like that of a massive wave. Before I could react, I was swept off my feet by water that rose up to my chest,” says Bhoi.