Protest against paper mill pollution

JEYPORE: Over 10,000 people of Jeypore block in Koraput district have decided to start a massive campaign against Sewa Paper Mill to protest air and water pollution in the peripheral areas of the mill.Villagers of Umuri, Phampuni, Kaligam, Dhanpur, Randapali, Amabaguda, Ekamaba, Tankua and Balia panchayat areas have alleged through a release that the paper mill has been producing huge quantity of toxic gases and releasing effluents into water bodies in violation of the Orissa State Pollution Control Board (OSPCB) norms and over 100 peripheral villages have been affected due to this. They said crop damage and diseases like TB and skin allergies are common in the areas and now even livestock is being affected.They threatened to hit the streets and begin a massive campaign against the paper mill if steps are not initiated to contain pollution.The OSPCB had earlier slapped a notice on the paper mill over the issue.