Residents of Khrew are observing shutdown from past two days in protest against seven cement factories operating in the area.
The residents said they were protesting only to put across their point that the “continuous pollution emanating from the cement factories is not only telling upon the health of human and cattle population of the area, but has also turned about 50,000 kanals of saffron land unfertile”.
Blaming government for not taking any action against the grave issue of pollution, the residents said the cement factories have occupied four times more land than what was leased to them by the authorities. They said neither the cement factories are following the norms set by Pollution Control Board for them nor have they installed the pollution control devices.
“It is grave issue concerning our life and livelihood. Because of the continuous pollution, people and cattle in our area are catching up infection of life-threatening diseases. Agriculture land too is becoming barren,” said the residents. People said the major contributor of the pollution is government-owned JK Cement Factory, “which on paper has spent Rs 10 crore on pollution control measures, but on ground has done nothing”.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel
People also said that the cement factors as per the Corporate Social Responsibility have to spent two per cent of their annual turnover on social welfare causes in the area, but “they are not spending anything.”
Meanwhile, cement plant holders of Khrew area told KNS that the people are making mountain out of molehill. “The pollution problem is not that grave an issue, as every cement plant has a modern machinery installed, which check pollution in an efficient manner,” the plant holders said, adding that allegation levelled by people were not holding much ground.
They said the people of the area were actually demanding free electricity to about 3000 households in the area, which “is practically impossible for the cement plants to provide”.
“W e can construct hospital, roads and other facilities in the area, but can’t provide free electricity to 3000 households,” the cement plant holders said. (KNS)