MLA Saryu Roy Threatens Legal Action Over Damodar River Pollution

Saryu Roy Demands Action Against Damodar River Encroachment, Air Pollution

Jamshedpur East MLA Saryu Roy warns of High Court action if authorities fail to address Damodar river pollution and Jharia air quality issues.

JAMSHEDPUR – Jamshedpur East MLA Saryu Roy has issued a stern warning to the administrations of Dhanbad and Bokaro, as well as the Jharkhand State Pollution Control Board (JSPCB), regarding the environmental hazards in the Damodar river.

Roy has threatened to take legal action, including filing a petition in the Jharkhand High Court in January 2024, if the authorities fail to demolish the overdump from outsourcing mines in the river and address severe air pollution in Jharia.

He referenced his previous intervention in 2011, which led the then Chief Justice of Jharkhand High Court to take suo motu cognizance of the pollution and encroachment issues affecting Damodar and other rivers.

Following Roy’s intervention, significant progress was made in reducing industrial pollution in the Damodar river, which is now over 95% free from such contamination.

Despite these efforts, Roy’s petition (WP(C)/1325/2011) remains active and pending, with a hearing scheduled for the third week of January 2024.

Rai, along with his advocate Diwakar Upadhyay, plans to file a new intervention petition in early January, armed with fresh evidence and information about the mining activities in Dhanbad and Bokaro.

He also intends to request the court to take action against industries that continue to dump waste in the river.

Additionally, Roy highlighted the discrepancies in the monitoring of air pollution in Jharkhand, pointing out the lack of ‘online real-time’ air pollution measuring plants and the disconnect between the state pollution board and the servers of the Central Pollution Board.