Team Herald
SATTARI: Around 500 villagers from Honda village panchayat jurisdiction and surrounding area held a protest against a paper mill company on Sunday and threatened to close down the mill if they fail to control pollution. The company officials have been given one-and-half months time to control the pollution.
If you enjoyed reading this article, you can help support our journalism by adding OHeraldo as a preferred source.
The locals alleged that the mill was polluting the water and air besides emitting foul smell. “We are celebrating the 75th Independence Day today, but here we cannot breathe fresh air,” the locals claimed.
“The Honda Village Panchayat panch members had written a letter to the industrial and health minister regarding the pollution but there is no response till date”, said Deputy Sarpanch Shashikala Rane.
“The mill has been built near the residential area of Honda and Pissurlem panchayat, without informing the locals about the consequences of the mill”, locals said.
“When locals tried to know about the company they were informed by the Honda IDC officials that it was a non-polluting mill. There are many plots inside the Honda IDC area. The paper mill should have been built far away from the residential areas. This industry is also releasing waste chemical water in our local rivers at late night”, alleged Prashant Desai, a local.
“The company has asked for one-and-half month time to control the pollution and we have given them the time period. We have informed the company’s director and if they fail to control the pollution in the stipulated time then the locals will close down the mill”, informed Valpoi Mamlatdar, Dashrath Gawas.
