The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Asphalt plants’ smoke sets residents fuming

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Tamil Nadu

Asphalt plants’ smoke sets residents fuming

Special Correspondent

Villagers in Nallambakkam panchayat stage protest against pollution

— Photo: A. Muralitharan

FRETTING AND FUMING: Residents of Nallambakkam panchayat on Thursday staging a protest demanding closure or shifting of asphalt plants in the area.

TAMBARAM: Alleging that some asphalt plants in the neighbourhood were causing air pollution in their localities, residents of a few hamlets of Nallambakkam panchayat near here staged a protest on Thursday morning. They wanted the State government to either close or shift them.

Besides the residents, members of self-help groups, youth organisations and elected representatives took part in the protest. They said the plants were at present functioning at Irular Colony and Tirunayanapuram and located close to some of the houses in the two places.

The plants supplied asphalt to several private firms. As they functioned round the clock, thick, dark fumes of black smoke billowed out of the chimneys throughout the day, posing inconvenience to the residents, M.Tulukkanam, panchayat president, said.

The smoke spread far and wide causing irritation in the eyes of several residents and motorists travelling on the Vandalur - Kelambakkam Main Road. Already, residents in about a dozen villages were suffering owing to blasting and quarry operations in the hillocks nearby and the air pollution by the asphalt plants was only making things worse, the residents complained.

Many residents, mostly senior citizens, complained of breathing problems, Mr. Tulukkanam said attributing them to the smoke from the asphalt plants.

Appealing to engineers in the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board and officials of the Kancheepuram district administration to inspect the plants and listen to the grievances of residents, they said if the plants were permitted to function, they would cause severe health hazards to the people. They gathered near the plants and after raising slogans, dispersed from the spot.

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