In a sharp and urgent intervention, Odisha Legislative Assembly Deputy Speaker Bhabani Shankar Bhoi has written to the Collector and District Magistrate of Sundargarh, demanding immediate and stringent action against the illegal transportation and indiscriminate dumping of fly ash that is devastating the district’s environment and testing public patience.
The strongly worded letter, dated July 1, 2026, paints a grim picture of widespread environmental degradation across Sundargarh. Illegal dumping is polluting agricultural land and water bodies, endangering public health, and sparking mounting anger among local residents and farmers.“Such activities are causing severe environmental degradation, polluting agricultural land and water bodies, affecting public health, and creating widespread anger among the local population,” the Deputy Speaker stated.
To bring the menace under control, Shri Bhoi has proposed the immediate constitution of Special Task Forces in each of the district’s three subdivisions. Each force would bring together officers from the Police, Forest, Revenue, Transport departments and the Odisha State Pollution Control Board.
He has recommended:
- Adequate manpower and dedicated vehicles for effective enforcement
- Round-the-clock operations in three shifts
- Regular patrolling and monitoring of vulnerable locations
- Interception of unauthorised fly ash transport vehicles
- Prevention of illegal dumping
- Seizure of offending vehicles
- Penalties and criminal proceedings against habitual offenders
- Surprise inspections at identified hotspots
The Deputy Speaker has also asked for weekly action-taken reports to be submitted to the Collector’s office and the creation of a district-level monitoring mechanism. He stressed the need to involve Tahasildars, Sub-Collectors, and Sub-Divisional Police Officers to strengthen on-ground enforcement.
He expressed confidence that timely intervention and effective coordination among the concerned departments will go a long way in protecting the environment, safeguarding the interests of farmers and residents, and ensuring strict adherence to environmental laws.
The letter reflects rising local frustration over fly ash pollution, which has become a major concern in industrial and mining-heavy districts like Sundargarh. With public anger growing, the Deputy Speaker’s direct appeal to the district administration signals that the issue has reached the highest levels of the state legislature.
The ball is now in the administration’s court. Will Sundargarh see swift, coordinated action through these proposed Special Task Forces? Locals and environmentalists will be watching closely.
