Lanjigarh: A red mud pond constructed by Vedanta at its Basantapada unit in Lanjigarh area of Odisha’s Kalahandi district reportedly caved in on Sunday, causing damage to cropland.
As per preliminary information, several hectares including farmland have been flooded in Bandhaguda, Turiguda, and Basantapada areas of the district following the breach in the pond.
With huge volumes of red mud from the pond inundating vast areas nearby, a flood-like situation appeared to have put the cropland in danger, sources said.
Stating that the incident seemed to have taken place early in the morning, farmers and local residents expressed apprehension that the red mud, a byproduct of the aluminium refining process, may cause damage to the agriculture land and affect productivity as it reportedly contains toxic substances. It may also pose health hazards in the area, they said.
Worried over the incident, locals claimed that the company paid little attention towards proper maintenance of the facility because of which the breach took place. Improper construction and lack of maintenance led to the incident, they claimed.
A large number of affected people reportedly gathered near the alumina refinery seeking adequate compensation for the loss. No senior company official was immediately available for comment on the incident and the allegation made by the villagers.
Comments are closed, but trackbacks and pingbacks are open.