India – Orissa Abandoned hazardous waste dumpsite
the details…
Key pollutant
Hexavalent Chromium
Source
Production of chrome salts such as sodium dichromate and basic chrome sulfate
Pathway
Water, soil, air
Population affected
1,140,000
Children Under 6 Affected
330,600
The Problem
At Talchar in the district of Angul, there was a defunct processing plant associated with M/s Orichem Limited (OCL) which had produced chrome salts such as sodium dichromate and basic chrome sulfate. The unit was operational from 1983 to 1998, when it closed down, leaving waste dumps and overflowing lagoons on site.
Blacksmith’s Technical Advisory Board provided technical input and comments on remediation options to the pollution control board. The semi-state company which had owned the site then decided to undertake remediation itself.
