Ecologists panic as 'acid rain' lashes western Orissa

The Pioneer, 2nd July, 2008
Pioneer News Service Sambalpur

On June19, a muddy rainfall suspected to be 'acid rain' lashed some areas of western Orissa, creating panic among ecologists as it signifies severe degeneration to the ecological system.
Confusion, however, prevails as to whether it was acid rain or not, and the Western Orissa Intellectual Association has asked the Government to send a scientists' team to probe into the matter. In a Press conference called by the association, Prof Durga Prasad Nayak demonstrated the leaves affected by the muddy rain, which were collected from Bhawanipatna.
The leaves lost their greenery, and in contact with eyes and skin they cause itching, thus signifying acid rain, though it is not confirmed from the Government's side.
The rain affected a wide area stretching from Bargarh to Bhawanipatna (Kalahandi), but the Government is yet to express any concern over the disturbing phenomenon. It is also unfortunate that despite there being a separate department for Environmental Science in the Sambalpur University there has been no suggestion from the university regarding the phenomenon.
When poisonous gases like sulphur dioxide and nitrous oxide, emitted from the thermal power plants come in contact with atmospheric air, they form sulphuric acid and nitric acid, causing acid rain. These gases, mixed with atmospheric air, can affect the areas lying hundreds of kilometers away from the place of occurrence.
An ecology researcher, Ranjan Panda, who has done his research in the field of water resources, expressed deep concern over the fact that crop fields and forests of the State's western belt would be severely affected if it is actually acid rain. He cited the reasons causing the rain in the area -- gas emitted from various industries and plants, heat emitted by chemical fertilisers used in agricultural lands, methane gas emitted from Hirakud Dam and chloro fluoro carbon emitted from motor vehicles. Acid rain may cause serious ailments like cancer and may be dangerous to newborn babies. He also agreed to the theory of hole in the ozone layer.
At the end of the conference, a group of representatives, led by Dilip Padhi, went to meet the Sambalpur varsity vice-chancellor Prof Uday Chandra Biswal and requested him to make an investigation on the rain-affected leaves.
The vice-chancellor deputed Prof PC Mishra of Environmental Science will undertake the study.