Rourkela: Tension prevailed in Kutra block in Sundargarh district on Sunday after villagers of Uparbahal detained around 20 trucks loaded with industrial ash since Saturday night, alleging illegal dumping in their area causing severe environmental pollution.Kutra police and a team of Regional Transport Office, Sundargarh, were at the spot examining the detained vehicle when reports last came in.According to residents, overloaded trucks carrying ash are parked along Biju Expressway during the day and later moved into village areas under the cover of darkness. The waste is reportedly dumped on agricultural fields, riverbanks, forests and residential zones. Villagers alleged that the practice had led to declining soil fertility, directly impacting farming and livelihood. There are also growing concerns about contamination of water sources and harm to biodiversity.
