[Prafulla Kaman]
PASIGHAT, 15 Jan: The matter of air and water pollution allegedly caused by the silicon factory running from the Industrial Growth Centre (IGC) in Niglok in East Siang district has already been taken up by the Central Pollution Control Board, Pasighat West MLA Ninong Ering said.
The MLA said this during a meeting with the industry’s authority and agitating villagers of Ruksin block, convened by the district administration here recently to resolve the row over the silicon factory.
Stating that the silicon factory is in industry land with due consent of the local gaon buras and local villagers, Ering urged the agitators to maintain calm and observe the situation for a period of six months.
Addressing the agitating villagers, East Arunachal Lok Sabha member Tapir Gao appealed to them to “keep proper negotiation with the government authority” to solve the problem, saying that there would be a mitigation policy to control hazardous pollution posed by the industrial unit.
But the aggrieved villagers, including leaders of the IGC Pollution-Affected People’s Forum, were not convinced with the commitments made by the MLA and the MP, and lamented that the state government,even after repeated approaches, has not yet taken any “effective mitigation policy” to control the hazardous pollution.
The meeting concluded unresolved and the agitators were rigid on continuing their agitation to block transportation of construction materials and finished products to and from the silicon factory.
Alleging that the factory, operated by M/s Aether Alloys LLP Industry, is causing air and water pollution, the agitating villagers are moving the authority to shift the silicon factory from the present location.
The local villagers, who are irritated over the authority’s irresponsive attitude, are continuing the blockade on materials supply for the last six months.
