PERNEM: Residents of of Dhargalim have raised serious concerns over the health hazard faced by the community with the coming up of the Ready-mix concrete (RMC) plant, in the locality. Locals allege that the cement plant has started operations without getting final NOC from the TCP, the Health Department and it is opposed by the local and the village panchayat. Locals said that project would create lot of dust in the residential area and we will face health problems.
On Thursday, locals along with Dhargalim sarpanch, panchayat members and project members visited the Health Center, Casarvane to meet the health officer concerning health issues.
Panchayat members told the Health Officer that said they had not given any permission to that project. “We oppose the project and we are with the locals in opposing the project,” panchayat members said.
Adv Ishan Usapkar stated, “Ready-mix concrete (RMC) plant is coming up in close proximity to the residential area. Hence many issues can arise. Villagers have complained to various authorities. None of the authorities have taken action. Hence the villagers came together and approached the High Court. High court ordered for a personal hearing and to work out a solution. Therefore we came to Primary Health Centre Casarvane. It is their duty to look after the sanitation.”
“From today’s discussion it emerged that no occupancy has been granted to the plant. The entire onus is on the Casarvane panchayat. It will depend how the panchayat will handle the issue. The panchayat should stand with the people. They should handle the situation with respect to the will of the people. The environment has to be protected,” he added.
Mithun Gawas, son of the petitioner Laxman Gawas who has filed a petition in the High Court said, “We are giving technical guidance to the people. We were called to discuss issues from the sanitation point of view by the Health Officer. We have told him that we are aggrieved regarding the pollution and health issues. This problem has already started. So the Health Officer said I can act on the sanitation issue. He `also said that TCP has given a temporary NOC and they have not got the final NOC. So after construction is over they have to get the final NOC from the TCP and the Health Department. They have not got these NOCs. We have learnt that the business is already operational. So this is totally illegal. We will discuss the future course of action. “
