SATURDAY, APRIL 27, 2024
Team Herald
PONDA: The locals of Marcaim under the banner Marcaim Nagrik Kruthi Samithi (MNKS) expressed concern over the huge piles of scrap slag material dumped by one steel plant in open area outside the Marcaim Industrial Estate.
Tensions prevailed over the issue, since past many days. The locals are worried over the pollution of water bodies and health hazard. The locals demanded to clear the slag-dump immediately failing which warned the steel company to face massive agitation.
Following the complaints by MNKS, the site inspection of the said slag-dump was conducted by Marcaim Panchayat Sarpanch Asmitha Marcaikar, panchas, Secretary Nitin Bandodkar in presence of the Marcaim IDC manager and manager of the steel plant.
MNKS President Premanand Gaude and members demanded to clear this huge dump immediately. They expressed fear that the dump would cause not only pollution but would also destroy and pollute the water resources in the village including the springs.
The officials of the concerned steel company at first rejected that they had dumped the slag, following the locals got furious and warned to stage agitation if the slag-dump is not cleared in eight days time.
Sarpanch Marcaikar also asked the steel Company to clear the slag-dump.
During the inspection, the locals also brought to the notice of officials that around 90 rooms constructed by steel company in its premises for the workers are discharging waste from the said rooms in the open.
“Following warning by the locals to stage agitation, the officials of the steel company agreed to clear the dump and also gave official request letter to the Marcaim Panchayat stating that they would clear the slag-dump by May 2021,” Gaude said.
