Fly ash spill crisis in Odisha's Jharsuguda;

MLA seeks action on contractor

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Spilling of thousands of tonnes of fly ash stored for construction of NH-49 in Jharsuguda, Kirmira and Kolabira blocks following torrential rains last week has sparked widespread concern among local farmers.

The breach of fly ash embankments along the under-construction NH-49 bypass near Ib Bridge caused extensive damage to farmlands, water bodies and residential areas following 218.44 mm of rainfall induced by a recent low-pressure system.

As a result, villages such as Durlaga, Talpatia, Arda, Banapali, Sialmar and Kalendamal were affected, with farmlands rendered unusable for the current kharif season and ponds used for irrigation and fish farming choked with ash, leaving local communities with severe livelihood losses.