Bhubaneswar: A total of 1405 licensed mining operations in the State, of which highest 257 licensed mining are in operation in Jajpur district, as per the Latest Report of the Odisha Government.
The mining activities are necessary not only for economic growth of the state or country but also for the community as they provide resources and employment. However, it also has health hazards and contributes to ecosystem depletion if poorly managed.
Sand mining is one of the major mining activities in the State while other mining activities like stone quarrying, coal mining, and limestone are found in several districts, the Report said.
A total of 652.30 sq. km area is under sand mining operation. Sand mining activities are reported in 80% districts and most of them are from riverbed areas. Sundargarh has the highest coverage of mining area at around 60 percent, it said.
On air quality management, the report said 254 automatic air quality monitoring (AQM) stations are present in the districts. Keonjhar with 54 automatic air quality monitoring stations is the highest of all the districts. While 206 AQM stations are operated by industries in the districts, 11 stations are operated by the Government in the districts.
Along with the air, polluted air has harmful effects on the land and ocean. For the survival of healthy human, animal, and plant life on Earth, good air quality is essential. To prevent, control, and mitigate air pollution in the State, the State Pollution Control Board (SPCB) is tasked with carrying out the Air Act of 1981’s requirements directly.
Some air pollutants come from natural sources like volcanic eruptions and dust storms, but most pollutants are caused by human activities. Examples of man-made air pollutants include exhaust from vehicles, smoke from coal-burning power plants, and hazardous gases from industry.
Sites for installation of Continuous Ambient air Quality Monitoring Station identified in 14 districts, digital display board for air quality index at traffic square is installed in 6 districts and Monitoring of air pollution hotspots done in 18 districts of the State.
It was found that 32 towns/cities of the 30 districts are failing to comply with the national ambient air quality stations.
The report said that 5641 air polluting industries are there in the State, out of which, the highest 1083 air polluting industries are present in the Cuttack district alone. It found that small industries, large industries and Industrial estates are major air polluting sources in the districts.
Regular monitoring of Ambient Air Quality is being done in 67 percent districts of the State.