GHORAHI, Feb 5: People of Ghorahi had been time and again urging the authorities concerned to check the air and sound pollution caused by the Ghorahi Cement Industry located at Ghorahi municipality-4.

But their concern had so far fallen in deaf ears and the locals are now waging a protest movement against the pollution caused by the dust, smoke and sound from the Factory.

Troubled by the heavy dust and smoke coming from the factory and the sound in addition, the locals have launched an agitation by forming a Factory-affected Environment Protection and Concerned Committee.

The committee is relentlessly calling for controlling pollution caused by the cement factory in their area for the last six years.

Dil Bahadur Gharti, a resident of Laxmipur, Ghorahi-4, lamented that the situation is such that it has become difficult to grow crops and vegetables due to the heavy dust cover in the area. "We even cannot consume the vegetables that we grow in the kitchen garden. There is thick dust layer on the vegetables and leaves. We used to grow a lot of fruits and vegetables in our village before. But these days fruits like litchi, lemon, mango and others wilt away and the fruits start dropping,' he said, explaining about the adverse situation caused by the heavy dust pollution.

Dr Govinda Acharya, member of the committee whose house is close to the factory, said that they cannot even sleep at night due to the noise coming from the factory. According to him, the factory operates 24 hours and the noise and dust pollution level is high at night. "We have requested the factory management to stop the noise for at least six hours at night. But they have been neglecting our concerns. It is difficult to even breathe due to the dust and smoke pollution.

Ghorahi Cement Industries Pvt Ltd has, however, insisted that the factory is operated in keeping with the standards set by the government. The cement factory that had produced 1,200 metric tonnes of cement every day during its establishment period has now started producing 2,000 metric tonnes of cement every day. The factory has now been producing and sending its products in market in the name of 'Sagarmatha Cement'.

Chairperson of Dandagaun Secondary School Management Committee, Tanka Sunar, said that different problems like body itching, cold and cough are seen among students after establishment of the factory. The school is located near the factory.

Public Administration Chief of Cement Factory, Bikas Sharma, mentioned that the factory is in operation abiding criteria determined by the government. Sharma said that the factory has been producing cement being serious to provide employment to locals as per their skill and capacity, to control environment pollution by panting saplings being aware in environmental impact assessment.

He said, "We have not been carrying out any activities making negative impact on anyone. Study can be carried out by bringing expert team from the centre if you fell there is some problem on the issue of operation of factory and the factory is in operation in cent percent right way."

Industry's public administration chief Sharma said there is a target to increase the production capacity of the industry to 4,000 metric tons daily and works have begun for the same after acquiring a permission from the government recently.

Ghorahi sub metropolis mayor Narulal Chaudhary said practical aspects should be taken into account while operating its business though it has completed the entire legal procedures. He was of the view of taking the locals' concerns seriously though environment impact assessment was in the industry's regular schedule.

According to him, none desired to see the closure of the industry, but the voices are for making it citizens-friendly. It is essential to be sensitive towards the minimization/prevention of negative consequences of the industry.

Chief District Officer Govinda Prasad Rijal said the industry had been instructed to find alternative measures for the safe release and management of smoke, dust and sound pollution bearing in mind growing people's complaints. It is said the industry has claimed several efforts are being made to minimize environmental impacts and pollution-control equipment has been stalled.

The CDO said they will be monitoring it.

The industry was established in 2062 BS at the cost of around Rs 4 billion.

 
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