Industries in the Angul-Dhenkanal belt have been warned of stern action by the Forest and Environment Department for not taking up adequate plantation.
The warning came after a review meeting held here on Wednesday by Forest and Environment Minister Bijayshree Routray and Principal Secretary RK Sharma with senior forest and environment officials.
While expressing displeasure over lack of desired plantation by the industries in Angul-Dhenkanal belt, both the Minister and Principal Secretary warned of stern action against the errant industries like Bhusan Steel Limited.
Routray asked both the public and private industries in Angul and Dhenkanal districts to submit the plantation figures to the ministry within 10 days.
Sharma warned of action against the industries who have failed to implement the guidelines of green cover in at least one third of their acquired areas. Divisional forest officers of the districts were instructed to inspect industries and report on their green activities. DFO of Dhenkanl has been asked to verify claim by Bhusan Steel that it had planted saplings in Dhenkanal urban areas. Public sectors like Nalco, NTPC and MCL along with JSPL were asked to generate two lakh saplings every year in their nurseries for distribution among the people.
Expressing concern over poor fly ash management by NTPC plants, Routray directed Corporation to adhere to the norms of the Pollution Control Board. Similarly, MCL was also asked to go for plantation as per the norms and contain large scale pollution by checking dust and fire in the mines.