Sambalpur Villagers Rally Against Proposed Ethanol Plant on Mahanadi Riverbanks
In a significant display of grassroots opposition, residents of the Deogaon area in Sambalpur district, Odisha, submitted a formal memorandum to the district collector on Wednesday. The document demands the immediate cancellation of a proposed ethanol plant planned along the banks of the sacred Mahanadi river. This protest has galvanized local villagers and organizations, who are voicing strong concerns over the project's potential environmental and health impacts.
Ecological and Health Risks Spark Widespread Agitation
The protesters have described the ethanol plant as part of a broader pattern of natural resource exploitation in western Odisha. They argue that the project poses a severe threat to the region's delicate ecological balance. Villagers, including a large contingent of women, participated actively in the demonstration, carrying national flags and chanting slogans to express their opposition.
People from the Rairakhol assembly segment have raised alarms that the plant could lead to significant pollution of air, water, and soil. This contamination, they warn, would create serious public health hazards and environmental degradation, affecting both current and future generations.
Legal and Regulatory Violations Alleged by Activists
Social activist Asaf Ali Khan has questioned the project's compliance with environmental regulations. He pointed out that norms typically prohibit industrial projects within a 10-kilometer radius of protected forests, wildlife sanctuaries, or densely populated areas. Khan alleged that the proposed site is dangerously close to sensitive zones—approximately 500 meters from the Mahanadi river and a mere 50 meters from an active elephant corridor, raising critical concerns about wildlife safety and habitat disruption.
Political Leaders Join the Chorus of Concern
The protest has garnered attention from political figures as well. Senior BJP MLA Jayanarayan Mishra and other leaders have expressed deep concern over the potential impacts of industrial waste, including fly ash, from the ethanol plant. Their involvement underscores the broader political and social implications of the issue, highlighting it as a matter of regional importance.
Administrative Response and Future Implications
Sambalpur district collector Siddheshwar Baliram Bondar confirmed that the memorandum has been received and assured that the matter will be thoroughly examined. However, protesters have warned that if the administration fails to intervene effectively, their agitation will intensify, potentially leading to larger-scale demonstrations and sustained opposition.
This protest reflects growing public awareness and activism around environmental conservation in Odisha, particularly in areas adjacent to vital water bodies like the Mahanadi river. The outcome of this demand could set a precedent for how industrial projects are evaluated and approved in ecologically sensitive regions across the state.
