Devala residents oppose shifting of closed tar manufacturing unit; demand permanent closure

Devala residents oppose shifting of closed tar manufacturing unit; demand permanent closure

Residents of Devala in the Nilgiris have appealed to the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) to prevent the shifting and reopening of a tar-mixing facility which has been closed down for the last few years.

The residents said that the PRCC tar-mixing facility in Devala had been closed down a few years ago after residents staged multiple protests in the area, alleging that local residents were reporting higher rates of serious illnesses, such as cancer. They alleged that the tar-mixing plant was the primary reason for such illnesses.

Following the protests, it came to light that the facility had been operating without permissions from the TNPCB till 2022, despite it being operational for over 15-years. The owners of the plant had also allegedly stated that there were no homes located near to the plant, which was disputed by local residents.

However, as permissions for the plant to be reopened have not been granted, it has been alleged by local residents that the owner has once again approached the TNPCB, this time asking for permission to shift the plant to an alternative site nearby.

V. Harris, a resident of Pocker Colony in Devala, has written to the TNPCB stating that the alternative site which has been proposed by the owner is less than a few hundred meters from the Vaalavayal Reserve Forest in Gudalur forest range and also from the State Highway cutting through the area. “Moreover, it is still very close to human habitations, and existing laws clearly state that such a facility needs to be more than five km away from a reserve forest,” he said.

Another resident, R. Ranjith from the O’Valley Makkal Iyakkam, said that there was an existing order by the Nilgiris district administration which clearly stipulated that the status of the land on which the new facility is to come up, not be changed and that it was classified as “agricultural land.”

“As the TNPCB is to decide on whether they will grant permission for the industry to be shifted, we appeal to the government to ensure that the facility remains closed and to ensure the health and safety of the hundreds of families that live in the area,” said Mr. Ranjith.