Excelsior Correspondent
KATHUA, Aug 22: The residents of various areas of Kathua sat on protest dharna in front of Pollution Control Board Office here, today. A large number of people including the women drawn from Hatli Morh, Govindsar, Sawan Chak, Green Park, and Check Ram Singh sat on protest dharna in
support of their demands.
They were protesting against the polluted and Red category type industry going to be set up in Kathua Industrial Estate adjoining the populated area. The protestors’ residents led by Rajesh Mehta raised slogans against polluted industry, Pollution Control Board and District Industries Centre Kathua.
Rajesh Mehta, while addressing alleged that without following the norms of pollution control and environment threats, the Industry Department gave permission to RK Grinding Industry to set up the unit of cement based Klinker industry of Red category which is highly polluted and will create hazardous position and cause various diseases. They demanded to shift the Red category industry from populated areas and appealed the Pollution Control Board chairman not to issue the NOC to run the industry. He said the protest dharna will continue till the fulfillment of their demands.
He alleged that two weeks earlier they protested in this context and asked the concerned agencies to immediately stop the establishment of RK Grinding Klincker Unit. But no one took care about 10,000 lives of local people and yielded before Industrialist.
He said that we are not against the expansion of Industry. But the District Industry Centre and Pollution Control Board need to keep in mind the populated area and categorize the only human friendly and Green and Orange category industry in populated areas. Why the Red category industry was given permission in populated areas. “On one side Government putting thrust to minimize the pollution and make atmosphere eco friendly. But on the other side Kathua based officers and department are working against the atmosphere”.
He said that they will approach to Prime Minister of India if their demands were not met at the earliest. A woman Veena Devi said that Industrial Estate adjoining area is badly affected of high level pollution of cement and tyres units. The inhabitants are forced to close the door of their houses due to high level of pollution. A thick population is affected by various diseases. “In such circumstances how can we allow another Red Category Industrial unit in our area”. The protestor also submitted a memorandum to Assistant Director Pollution Control Board Kathua, Anil Kumar addressed to Chairman Pollution Control Board demanding NOC should not be issued to Red category industry.
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