Members of Standing Committee of Odisha Legislative Assembly on Forest and Environment Transport & Commerce, Industries and Employment departments have asked industries in Sundargarh district to curb environmental pollution. The committee members including MLAs Kasinath Mallick, Devendra Kahar, Gregory Minz and Anup Sai and led by Prafulla Kumar Mallick held a review meeting. They instructed industries to take up more plantation work and curb environmental population. Regional Officer of Odisha State Pollution Control Board (OSPCB) Niranjan Mallick said several sponge iron plants in Sundargarh district were recently closed for failing to comply with pollution norms. At least 15 loss making sponge iron units were closed by promoters due to hostile conditions including non-availability of cheap raw materials and power. The committee members advised the Rourkela Steel Plant (RSP) authorities to take up adequate corporate social responsibility activities, periphery development and address the employment issue of the remaining local displaced persons. The RSP was also asked to upgrade the Ispat General Hospital into medical college and hospital. Amid large scale unemployment in the district, the local employment exchange was asked to facilitate recruitment of local job seekers in industries. Functioning of the transport regulatory office and the industries department office was also reviewed. A group of villagers of Jiabahal also met the committee members and complained that the Mahavir Ferro Alloys Pvt Ltd at Kalunga through IDCO had forcibly acquired their land. They accused the industrial unit and the IDCO of resorting to wrongful means. Months back, another House Committee of the Government had blamed Mahavir Ferro of causing rampant pollution. Among others, Sundargarh ADM Rabindra Mishra and his Rourkela counterpart RN Mishra, Panposh Sub-Collector SB Mishra attended the review meeting.