Other States - Orissa   

Villagers continue protest against stone quarry

Crying foul: Residents of Baulajholi village of Ganjam district demonstrating at the stone quarry leased to a private company .

BERHAMPUR: The villagers of Baulajholi panchayat in Ganjam district are continuing protest against the stone quarry in their area which has become an environmental menace for them.

They held demonstration for this demand. They had also blocked the road that passes through the panchayat a few days ago for the same demand. The local tehsildar had to rush to the spot to pacify the villagers. The stone quarry that operates in the area has been leased out and licensed by the State Government. So, the administration had to intervene to avoid law and order situation.

According to Chittaranjan Sahu, who is leading the villagers of the panchayat against the stone quarry this quarry has affected the livelihood of a number of families of the area who were earlier making grinding stones for household use using the granite blocks found in the area. They have lost their livelihood due to leasing out of the granite belts near the villages to the private company to operate the stone quarry.

Mr Sahu said apart from it they were affected by the large scale pollution caused by the mechanized crushing of stones. The amount of dust generated by the crushers and the blasting has become a major health hazard. The crop and cashew plantations are also affected as the stone dust floating in the air gets deposited on the plants affecting their productivity, the villagers said. They have handed over a memorandum to the administration demanding cancellation of lease of the stone quarry.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Uninor launches GSM service
Demand for designer cakes increases
Preparations in full swing for Gopalpur beach festival
Signature campaign launched
Public hearing held
Meet conducted on forest rights
Villagers continue protest against stone quarry
Students ‘ransack’ principal’s office
Protest planned against killing of tribal
Demo organised at police station
Three headmasters feted
Kharabela Swain resigns from BJP
High degree of air pollution at hospitality sites
Lawyers boycott courts

Copyright © 2009, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu