Devala residents demand closure of tar mixing factory in the Nilgiris
The Hindu
Residents of Pocker Colony, Devala, demand TNPCB to rescind permission granted to tar mixing plant, alleging health of local residents is severely affected. Documents show plant didn't have permission to operate till 2022. 10 people have died from cancer in area. Protestors, incl. children, detained by police. Political parties form PRCC tar mixing plant opposition committee to demand closure.
More than 200 families of Pocker Colony, Devala, have demanded the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) to rescind the permission granted to a tar mixing plant, alleging that the health of local residents is being severely affected, with people living in the area suffering from a higher incidence of cancer.
The plant has been operational for over 15 years, with residents managing to get it successfully sealed in 2020, only for it to be reopened the following year.
In documents obtained by the residents through the Right to Information (RTI) Act, which are available with The Hindu, it was found that the PRCC tar mixing plant did not have the permission of the Nelliyalam Municipality to set up and operate the plant till 2022, despite it being functional for over 15 years.
Abdul Harif, a resident in the locality, said that a total of ten people have died from cancer over the last few years in the immediate surroundings of the plant. “My own brother, who led the protests against the plant, died from cancer, and we believe it has something to do with the huge amounts of air pollution emanating from the plant,” he said.
Residents allege that the TNPCB gave permission to the operators of the tar mixing plant only because the operators lied stating that the nearest residents were living 500 meters away from the plant, and that there were no reserve forests nearby.
However, in 2018, the forest ranger in Devala, had recommended that the tar mixing plant be shut down, as it is 400 meters away from the Vaalavayal Reserve Forest. “The functioning of the tar mixing plant is against the spirit of all the environmental laws,” the then ranger had said in his letter to the District Forest Officer (Gudalur).
Another resident stated that there were homes built adjoining the perimeter wall of the plant, and that more than 200 families are affected by the functioning of the plant.
Almaya Munnettam (Lay People to the Fore), group in the Ernakulam-Angamaly Archdiocese of the Syro-Malabar Church opposed to the synod-recommended Mass, rejected a circular issued by Major Archbishop Raphael Thattil and apostolic administrator Bosco Puthur on June 9 to implement the unified Mass in the archdiocese from July 3.
Pakistan coach Gary Kirsten stated that “not so great decision making” contributed to his side’s defeat to India in the Group-A T20 World Cup clash here on Sunday. The batting unit came apart in the chase, after being well placed at 72 for two. With 48 runs needed from eight overs, Pakistan found a way to panic and lose. “Maybe not so great decision making,” Kirsten said at the post-match press conference, when asked to explain the loss.