Ranchi: Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren has directed the Ramgarh district administration to take immediate action following allegations of environmental pollution caused by a private steel factory in the district.
The directive came after a video circulated widely on social media, allegedly showing severe air pollution emanating from the steel plant. The footage was recorded by a local resident, Surendra, who claimed that large quantities of ash and dust were being released from the factory, affecting nearby areas.
The video was later shared on social media platform X by a user named Ashok Danoda, drawing public attention to the issue. Taking suo motu cognisance, Chief Minister Soren reposted the video and described the situation as “completely unacceptable.”
He instructed the Deputy Commissioner of Ramgarh to immediately investigate the matter, take action in accordance with environmental regulations, and submit a detailed report to the state government.
In the video, ash is seen covering bushes, trees and open land around the factory premises. Surendra also demonstrates how the fine dust particles disperse easily into the air, allegedly spreading to nearby agricultural fields and forest areas.
The post accompanying the video sarcastically stated that the factory was not only producing steel but also supplying “fertiliser” to surrounding fields and forests in the form of ash and dust.
Officials said the district administration has been alerted to examine whether the steel plant is violating pollution control norms. Ramgarh has faced repeated complaints in the past against industrial units over air and environmental pollution, as well as allegations of ignoring safety and environmental safeguards.
There have also been claims of illegal coal mining in Ramgarh and neighbouring districts such as Hazaribagh and Bokaro, allegedly driven by industrial demand. It is alleged that illegally mined coal from forest areas is being transported to factories using heavy machinery.
With inputs from IANS