ROURKELA: Hearing a petition filed against the Rourkela Steel Plant (RSP), the Supreme Court in a recent order took the management to task and snubbed the Orissa State Pollution Control Board (OSPCB) for not adequately utilising its statutory powers to check environmental pollution. The indictment, among other things, ordered initiation of criminal proceedings against the RSP officials concerned for the rising pollution level in the river Brahmani and the Koel. The order also advised the SAIL management to seriously think about setting up a fly ash-based cement plant to minimise air pollution caused by the captive power plants of RSP. The judgment also referred the matter to the Orissa High Court to monitor if the RSP management is adhering to the interim orders passed to curb pollution. The petition was filed by Rourkela-based INTUC national secretary and general secretary of Rourkela Shramik Sangh (RSS) MDN Panicker in 1991. Speaking to mediapersons today, he said RSP has over the years adhered to some guidelines to bring down air, water and soil pollution but much more needs to be done. He said industrial effluents directly enter the river Koel with the sewerage treatment plant at Bankia defunct. Also, liquid matter is released directly to the river Brahmani through the Gurari nullah. It was also being alleged that dust-catcher, dust extractor and other dust control equipment are not properly working and the RSP management is resorting to commissioning of sub-standard pollution control equipment. It was pointed out that the oxygen supplied to the Ispat General Hospital is not of quality as the Tonnage Oxygen Plant is not properly working.