The villagers located around these factories alleged that owing to dust pollution, the vegetation has drastically come down and whatever is cultivated is unfit for consumption. They charged that repeated appeals to the district administration had failed to evoke a response.

These plants have come up mostly in tribal villages, which have been reportedly harassed by police forces with the compliance of iron companies (3). Furthermore, they dont add much to the local economy either. Despite initial assurances of job security, few local villagers have been hired. Given that most villagers lack adequate qualification, those that do get jobs are usually hired as unskilled labourers with no insurance or medical benefits.

The reason of development of sponge iron plants in cluster is because of the easily availability of raw materials & communication facility in those areas.

According to SPCB, Orissa data regarding the production capacity & number of kiln in the state as on 31.12.2008, it is found at 33140 TPD & 247 respectively. From the data obtained it is found out that kilns having capacity of 100 TPD is highest number in state (150) and the production rate of these kilns is found to be at 15100 TPD followed by 500 16 number, 8000TPD) & 50 (47 number) & 350 TPD kiln (13 number). The TATA sponge iron plant at Beleipada, Keonjhar and Arati steel located at Ghantikhal, Cuttack are the plants having 500 TPD kiln capacity.