By Bizodisha Bureau, Bhubaneswar, September 7, 2018: The Odisha Pollution Control Board has issued notices to Coal India mines with a combined annual capacity of 20 million tonnes for non-compliance on environmental norms, sources said.

The notices, issued in July and August to two mines, alleged that the sludge treatment plant in one of the mines was found to be defunct and that the water sprinkling systems to keep dust under control were inadequate, among other things.

The Odisha state pollution control board also alleged that a coal fire was observed in one of the mines, and that firefighting measures were inadequate.

Coal India said the issues had either been rectified or were in the process of being rectified.