TALCHER : Talcher industrial area has become a boiling cauldron due to abnormal rise in temperature hitting normal lives today. There was unbearable temperature which crossed 40 degree Celsius for the last three days giving normal lives in the industrial belt paralysed.
There are several factors behind the rise of temperature in Talcher.In 2005, the temperature at Talcher coal belt shot up to 50 degree Celsius that attracted headlines in the National media. The State government at that time constituted an expert committee to go into the reasons behind the excess heat.
The main reasons behind the excessive heat are the operations of open cast coal mining, the depletion of forest cover and plying of thousands of coal carrying vehicles in and around mines. In coal mines ,the exposure of coal seam absorbs heat in day time and releases in the evening which provides a warm atmosphere all around Talcher.
At Talcher, there is no forest in literary terms. Thousands of acres of forests have been destroyed for the sake of coal mine instead there has been no compensatory afforestation despite the false claim of the state government in Talcher by which the temperature in all over the year goes at extreme point as comparable o state.
Another reason for raising temperature is the plying of thousands of coal trucks in and around mine. They emit huge dust and heat during their plying in carrying coal in mines and outside. Unfortunately, there is no provision of sprinkling of water anywhere in coal mine areas to contain pollution.Also,it is noticed that coal fires in the mines are also another cause for excess heat in Talcher.
Talcher-Angul Banchao Andolan (TABA) Convener Jagadananda Pradhan has alleged that the people of Talcher are suffering due to excess heat, dust pollution and lack of water while the state government is silent.
Pradhan has expressed concern over the excess heat at Talcher in the current summer due to coal mine activities. He has demanded comprehensive steps to contain heat and provide relief to the population.
Talcher sub collector Samir Jena said that all the industries in the area have been asked to take proper steps to contain the excess heat wave conditions. He said the sub divisional administration has geared up its machineries to tackle the situation.
