SMSS stages protest against factory pollution in Duliajan

FROM A CORRESPONDENT

DULIAJAN, April 29: Around 200 activists under the umbrella of Satra Mukti Sangram Samiti  (SMSS), Duliajan Regiol unit staged a protest against an iron and silicon factory near Mril Jyoti Kendra, Chalakataki under Duliajan police station for allegedly creating air and sound pollution due to which people living nearby the factory had been facing problems for the past few years.

On Wednesday around 200 protesters including students and women assembled near the factory site. But before moving to the site of factory, Circle Officer Sampriti Goswami, harkatia Revenue Circle, DSP of mrup, Partha Bijoy Dutta asked the protesters to disperse.

The protesters demonstrated near the factory site and raised slogans against the owner of the factory and district administration. The sound pollution from the factory was allegedly affecting the students of Adarsha Balika Vidyalaya, Duliajan College and Mril Jyoti Rehabilatation Centre and the people of Chalakataki village, all located near the factory, said the protesters.

The Executive Engineer of Pollution Control Board of Assam, Dibrugarh, HR Phukan rushed to the site and assured in written to take initiative on Environmental Industrial Assessment and public hearing on May 6 with a five-member committee in the site. Regarding the pollution caused by the factory, a meeting was also held on April 29 among the Circle Officer of Tengakhat Revenue circle, PCBS office, proprietor of the factory and student organization and in the meeting it was also decided that initiative would be taken for plantation near the factory area.

After the protest, SMSS Duliajan unit president Madhurya Borah and general secretary Sarat Gogoi submitted a memorandum through the Circle Officer to the Deputy Commissioner of Dibrugarh.