The dust raised over crop damage due to ash slurry refuses to die down with a fresh breach reported from an ash pond of Hindalco Industries Limited (HIL) at Budakata on Wednesday.
The farmers of Budakata area have alleged that despite massive crop damage, HIL has failed to stop fresh breach and ash slurry has flown into new areas.
While on the one hand HIL denied any breach in the ash pond and termed it as clear water which had been accumulated in the pond, on the other they said the clear water had taken along with it the ash deposits of the last breach. They have clarified that no ash has flown down this time.
Regional Officer of the Odisha State Pollution Control Board, SS Mishra, said though the ash had flown into a small part of the land, it has not caused serious damage to crops. The farmers have accused HIL of ignoring their interests.