Thiruchirapalli

The Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) had organised the public hearing at Anandavadi near Senthurai, chaired by District Collector D Rathna, in which the public vehemently opposed the expansion move, stating that it would result in pollution and create a nightmarish experience, as they added that a large number of heavy vehicles are being operated there and that several abandoned mines were not even closed properly even now that lead to several life losses. “Almost all the mines are left without proper safety measures and this results in several accidental deaths,” said social activist Tamilkalam Ilavarasan.

He said that the firm has not even spent two per cent under CSR programme for the basic amenities in the village. He also pointed out that the factory administration had earlier promised employment for one person from each family who handed over their land for the limestone mining activity but they failed to keep their words, he claimed. He urged the officials to study the abandoned mines and ensure safety measures and think about the expansion activity.

Farmers Association functionary Thanga Shanmugasundaram said the cement factory should regularise the employment of the contract labourers and ensure employment for the people who had already handed over their land.

Meanwhile, another social activist Sankar claimed that as many as 5,622 road accidents took place in the past 10 years in which over 3,000 were fatal accidents due to the traffic by the heavy vehicles operated for the factory. “But no compensation for the life loss or injuries had been given by the factory owners,” he said, and raised slogans not to expand the factory but to close it which creates a havoc to the environment as well as affects the people.

Responding to the charges, the District Collector said that their grievances would be forwarded to the government. She also asked the participants to hand over the written petition which would be forwarded to the departments concerned for immediate action.

A heavy posse of police was deputed on duty for the public hearing. The police were posted on duty at all bus stops to around five km distance to avert any incidents.

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