Truckloads of Coal

Last year, around 22nd December 2022, I was watching some Odisha Television News. “I want the transportation of coal to end permanently,” said Binati Mahanta vociferously, a 38-year-old, homemaker from the Other Backward Class. She belonged to one of the eight panchayats in the Tomka region, falling within the Jajpur district of Odisha, which had been massively affected by an onslaught of dust. These dust particles originated from the extensive transportation of coal carried out via a fleet of trucks, trespassing the area 24x7. Their route crisscrossed the place aggressively, beginning from the mines near Tomka to Kalinga Nagar in Jajpur, along with several routes leading outside Odisha.

These dumpers supplied coal to different steel plants inside and outside the state, like Nilachal Ispat Nigam, Tata Steel Ltd, and Jindal Industries near Duburi; and beyond. Further, this coal freight was conveyed through roadways since no railways were available nearby. However, irrespective of why these coal-laden trucks plied, they became a nightmare for the fellow road commuters and residents on the roadside.

Many irate locals complained about the hundreds of heavy vehicles badly damaging their roads, littering them with potholes and craters as they mounted coal on railroad sidings. As a result, rural highways were rendered unfit even for a humble bicycle ride. The slippery dust made the road surface more accident-prone. Real difficulty occurred during health emergencies. “We’re unable to get a patient to the hospital because ten-wheelers carrying coal frequently block the route,” grieved the locals.

Trees and houses alongside the entire stretch were layered by a thick coat of black soot. Vegetables and paddy in farms were left unsuitable for consumption, especially when precipitation sweeping the rampant coal powder seeped into the soil. Sprinkling water just made the problem worse, proved by a growing detection of asthma, cancer, and heart and lung ailments among the population. Children suffered the most and many didn’t want to go to school anymore!

Without success, the affected communities sought a solution to this menace. “We want the shipping of coal to cease immediately,” demanded a localite. Frustrated individuals threatened to protest if the government didn’t act to alleviate their pain. The directives issued by the coal ministry in compliance with National Green Tribunal in 2020, stated that no coal shall be transported between 9–10am. However, this was blatantly ignored. As people endured unimaginable misery, a quick inspection by the Odisha State Pollution Control Board was indispensable.

Now, the government monitors and checks the pollution triggered by any such flying dust which was severely hampering the place.