By Bizodisha Bureau, Bhubaneswar, November 22, 2016 : The Odisha State Pollution Control Board (OSPCB) on Monday sealed the Visa Steel plant in the industrial hub of Kalinganagar for polluting the area.

“There were intense public protests against the steel plant for the last five years. The plant, which employed around 1,200 people, was sealed in the presence of tehsildar, Sukinda, IIC of Kalinganagar police station, officials of OSPCB and other officials,” according to Jajpur district collector Ranjan Das.

Last week, the OSPCB had issued notice under section 33(A) of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, and section 31 (A) of the Air (prevention) and Control of pollution) Act, 1981, to the plant authorities to close the unit, said Das.

The Board sealed two blast furnaces, sponge iron units and other units of the steel plant.

On May 21, the Board had found serious flaws during inspection of the plant during the spot inspection. It also came to know that due to damage of filter bags there was emission of gas.