PALAKKAD: The expert committee appointed by the Government to assess whether Kerala Sponge Iron Limited at Malampuzha could operate at the present site will submit its report within a month's time. Talking to mediapersons after a visit to the Kerala Sponge Iron Company and another sponge iron unit at Kanjikode, committee chairman M.K. Prasad said the committee would examine whether the company's operations would lead to pollution, especially in the Malampuzha reservoir, which is used for drinking water and irrigation needs.

Asked why the committee did not conduct a public hearing, he said the Government had forwarded the complain ts it had received from organisations and individuals opposing the sponge iron unit in Malampuzha. Those who had filed complaints were invited by the committee to give evidence. The committee also visi ted the Sponge Iron and Po wer Division of M.P.S Steel Casting (P) Ltd. to study the functioning of a sponge iron unit. At its sitting at the Collectorate in the morning, various organisations as well as the Pudussery grama panchayat gave evidence.

Grama panchayat president K. Suresh said the panchayat had asked the company authorities to stop work on constructing the unit at Malampuzha. Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan, who was Leader of the Opposition then representing Malampuzha Assembly Constituency, had visited the work site and told the authorities to stop the work. However, the company went ahead with its plans. Panchayat secretary P. Aravindakshan told the committee that the panchayat, in its resolution on January 17, 2005, had decided not to permit any new steel unit, as already 35 units were functioning in Pudussery panchayat.

The Malampuzha Dam Protection Council said the setting up of a sponge iron unit in a forest area close to Malampuzha reservoir would pollute the water used by the Palakkad Municipality and seven adjoining panchayats. Council Secretary P.S. Panikkar said there were 37 steel smelting and rerolling units already functioning in Pudussery panchayat.

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