In view of the dragging stir being led by the villagers of Maletha Gram Sabha and its adjoining villages under the banner of Maletha Sangarsh Samiti, demanding a government order to stop operation of the stone crushers, a four- member-delegation deputed by the Chief Minister met on Tuesday the agitators, including Sameer Raturi who has been on an indefinite hunger strike for the past five days, and inspected the site where the stone crushers are installed.
The delegation assured Maletha Sangarsh Samiti–the outfit spearheading the stir- that the order cancelling four stone crushers will be issued in a couple of days. As for Satyam Sundaram stone crusher whose owner is Raipal Singh Bisht, its operation will remain suspended till the inquiry is completed. However, Sangarsh Samiti said that the agitation will continue till the Government issues the cancellation order.
Maletha Sangarsh Samiti convener Suryaveer Singh Bisht told The Pioneer that the four- member- delegation had met Sameer Raturi at the dharna site in Maletha and later, the villagers. The villagers alleged that the stone crushers had been set up in the agricultural land and in the vicinity of the residential houses, adding that their operation violates the act on environment.
The delegation then visited the site of the stone crushers and asked Kirtinagar Sub- District Magistrate why permission had been given to stone crusher to operate there. The head of the delegation thereafter talked to the Chief Minister and then assured the agitators that the order of the cancellation of four stone crushers will be issued in a day or two, while the operation of the Satyam Sundaram stone crusher will remain suspended till the inquiry is completed.