Air pollution has become widespread in the tribals-dominated Gajapati district in the absence of a branch of the State Pollution Control Board (SPCB).
“It is disappointing that an office of the State Pollution Control Board has not been opened even as 25 years have passed since the district was formed in 1992. Pollution level is increasing day by day. This has also caused of spread of various contaminated and serious diseases,” alleged many.
Air pollution has worsened as most of the buses are using kerosene as fuel and cashew production factories emanating poisonous gas continuously. Diseases like cancer and TP are spreading at factory sites in Kashinaag, Goshani, Gumma, Rayagada and Nuagada blocks.
Smokes generated from cashew factories producing cashew by burning method is very dangerous. As cancer and TB spread 10 years ago, the neighouring Andhra Pradesh Government issued notices to factories asking them to stop burning method and adopt boiling method for cashew production. As cashew produced through boiling method has a comparative low demand
and fetch less profit, businessmen in Gajapati district have established cashew production units with burning method in support of political leaders and Dalals in the vicinity of human habitations.