3 months ago
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Opposition Congress connected Friday (February 27, 2026) questioned the BJP Government successful Chhattisgarh implicit the alleged amerciable dumping of alert ash successful Raigarh district. It staged a walkout from the legislative Assembly aft expressing dissatisfaction implicit its reply.
Raising the contented during the Question Hour, elder Congress MLA Umesh Patel sought details connected the fig of industries operating successful Raigarh territory that make and dump alert ash.
He besides asked however galore cases of amerciable oregon unauthorised alert ash dumping were reported successful 2023-24, 2024-25 and 2025-26 (till February 4, 2026), and what enactment was taken successful specified cases.
Mr. Patel further sought accusation connected the enactment program to code biology contamination from alert ash and ember proscription successful the district, and connected the grade of its implementation.
Replying to the queries, State’s Finance Minister O.P. Choudhary informed the House that from 2023 till February 4, 2026, alert ash generated by 24 thermal powerfulness plants successful Raigarh territory was utilised for onshore filling and excavation filling.
Of these, six plants besides temporarily stored ash successful their ain ash dykes, helium said.
Mr. Choudhary said 49 cases of amerciable oregon unauthorised alert ash dumping were recorded during the period, and enactment was taken successful each lawsuit with biology compensation imposed connected the violators.
He besides said the Chhattisgarh Environment Conservation Board had issued a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) connected June 26, 2024, to forestall contamination during the proscription of earthy materials, products and discarded by road.
The SOP came into effect connected August 1, 2024. Additionally, an Industrial Waste Management and Monitoring System (IWMMS) has been operational since May 1, 2025, to show the proscription of concern coagulated waste, helium added.
The Minister said biology compensation is imposed connected industries recovered violating SOP norms during transportation.
However, Mr. Patel alleged that alert ash was inactive being dumped astatine places specified arsenic Botalda and Banipathar villages successful Raigarh district, including on roadsides. He claimed that officials were providing incorrect information, and helium had already complained astir the issue.
In response, Mr. Choudhary asserted that enactment against transportation-related violations was “ten times more” than during the erstwhile Congress authorities successful the State.
He claimed that nary enactment was taken successful 2021-22 and 2022-23 nether the erstwhile government, and said the existent medication was moving connected a exemplary SOP to fortify enforcement.
Unsatisfied with the Minister’s reply, Congress members staged a walkout from the House briefly.
