Acid rain rattles W Orissa

Newindpress, 29th June, 2008
Express News Service
SAMBALPUR: ACID rain scare has gripped the region with reports of residue over leaves of plant and trees being received from different districts of Western Orissa.Expressing concern at the development, Sambalpur Intellectual Forum (SIF) displayed leaves of various medicinal plants, which changed colour after a rainfall and alleged that even vehicles on roads reacted to the rains in a similar manner.Addressing mediapersons, environmentalist Prof.D.P. Nayak attributed the cause of acid rain to too many coal-fired thermal power plants in the region. The districts of Sambalpur, Bargarh, Nuapada and Kalahandi, all close to Chhattisgarh, which has a large number of power plants, have reported such incidents. ‘‘Prior to the acid rain smog fills the air and visibility beyond 50 metres is impossible’’, said Nayak.He alerted about its consequences on forest, land, health and agriculture and expressed apprehension on food crisis resulting from declining agricultural productivity.Stating that it was premature to spell out anything, environmentalist Ranjan Panda called for an in-depth study by the Sambalpur University and other agencies.A delegation of SIF submitted samples, for study by Department of Environmental Science and School of Life Sciences, to the Vice-Chancellor of Sambalpur University Prof. U.C. Biswal.