Residents of station road in latehar are up in arms against a hot mixing plant which is not only polluting the area but is also posing a threat to the rain fed river Ouranga as this hot mixing plant is barely 500 metres away from the river.
SDO latehar Varun Ranjan told The Pioneer, “Complaints were made to us in this regard. In the wake of the complaints an inquiry was conducted wherein it was found that the hot mixing plant was really quite close to the river Ouranga much against the directives of National Green Tribunal (NGT) which has prescribed a minimum limit of setting up of plant, factory, mill near any water body.”
On being asked if the hot mixing plant was on any raiyyati land or on GM land and whether on GM land was any rent fixed and taken from the hot mixing plant owner the SDO said this aspect would be found out and if the land comes out to be of GM one then the hot mixing plant is bound to pay rent otherwise it will be treated as a trespasser and law will take its own course then.
Sources said the hot mixing plant is playing trick as when action is initiated against the plant it claims that the plant is shut which is just the reverse of the public complaint that this plant emits smoke and create other allied problems.
Varun Ranjan said he initiated action against Section 133 of CrPC against this plant and the pressure worked on it as the management of this plant told administration that the plant would be packed up from this site in this last week of this month.
Sources said this hot mixing plant sells ready to use road construction material to contractors on premium price. The SDO has also asked the district mining officer and pollution board personnel to take steps against this plant since the site of this plant was in the thick human habitat, near the river much against the rule of forest and environment.
Ranjan further said there is almost an identical problem at Tori railway siding where lives of the commoners have become miserable because of the street dust that has enveloped the whole area there. Trucks and lorries leave a trail of storm of dust 24x7 here. Residents here have complained of breathing difficulty here. Infants and children are the worst victims said sources. Ranjan said this is a major public nuisance and the administration is seized with this problem.