Accusing Jakhan-based Pacific Mall releasing dirty water (waste) silently at Nallah near Sabji Mandi during the night hours, the locals along with the members of Ummeed, a social organisation, staged a demonstration outside the mall on Friday.
The agitators also submitted a memorandum to the Mall officials. Police was deployed to maintain peace with the agitation on.
Scores of protesters assembled at the Mall and started sloganeering against the Mall administration over the same issue. The protesters said that it was not the first time the Mall administration is indulging in such activities inimical to public interests.
They said that they had drawn their attention in the past, but to no avail.
One of the protesters said that the locals were scared of catching infectious diseases with the mall releasing toxic waste in the Nallah during the nights.
Another said that the locals are suffering on other counts too. “People coming to the mall parking vehicles along the roadside are landing us in great problem. This is despite the fact that the mall has a parking slot,” he said.
Yet, another said that the mall has not employed the locals. “We have not derived any benefit from the mall. Now, we are facing the threat of catching diseases with the mall releasing toxic waste,” he added.
Asked for comment, the mall officials rubbished the allegation, saying that the charge of the release of waste through the nullah by them was unfounded meant to sully its image.
“Pacific Mall has an inbuilt STP (sewage treatment plant) so that the wastage is not let out. We hereby confirm that no waste water from our mall goes into the neighbouring areas. The mall is, however, willing to address any genuine concern. But we are being targeted for no reason and our customers are also being harassed. We will take a legal course of action against the miscreants with ulterior motives,” ran a press release issued by the mall authority.