Kalahandi (Nilesh Kumar Nag): Vedanta authorities were aware of the situation but remained silent. The caustic pond at the Vedanta project in Lanjigarh, Kalahandi district, had been weakening over time. On Saturday late night, the bund of this caustic pond broke, causing significant damage in the surrounding areas. The toxic water flowed over hundreds of acres of land in villages such as Chatrapur, Batelima, Champadeipur, and Paika Ranipinda Panchayat in Rayagada district, ruining crops.
The toxic water also entered the Bansadhara River, which serves as a lifeline for over lakhs of people in Kalahandi and Rayagada districts, sparking fears of contamination.Despite attempts by the Vedanta authorities to cover up the incident from the beginning, the extent of the damage has forced them to confront the issue.
Affected villagers and farmers are demanding compensation, putting pressure on the company. In response to the situation, additional district magistrate Tanmay Kumar Darwan, along with Lanjigarh Tehsildar Kiran Kumar Mahanti, visited the affected areas to assess the damage. Dr. Nihar Ranjan Panda, the additional district health officer, collected samples from three locations, and the rural water supply department also collected samples from three spots.An official team from the regional pollution control board in Rayagada has arrived at Lanjigarh, and a drone survey of the damaged farmlands and other areas is set to be conducted tomorrow, according to Mr. Darwan.
Bhawanipatna MLA Sagar Charan Das visited the site and held discussions with local residents and affected farmers. At a press conference held at his residence, Das demanded that Vedanta provide compensation five times greater than usual and that a judicial inquiry be conducted. Lanjigarh MLA Pradeep Kumar Dishari also visited the site and met with affected people.It is noteworthy that the caustic pond dam broke late on Saturday night, creating a dangerous situation in the region. It is believed that the dam broke due to a sudden rise in the water level caused by heavy rainfall in Lanjigarh. Approximately 300,000 cubic liters of toxic caustic water, out of a total of 400,000 cubic liters stored in the pond, surged out, causing widespread damage. Fish, frogs, and other aquatic creatures in the Bansadhara River were found dead after the toxic water entered the river।
