Moidangpok residents warn NH-37 blockade
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By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Apr 1 : The residents of Moidangpok, Moidangpok Khunou, and New Keithelmanbi have issued an ultimatum to the State Government, demanding the immediate closure of all illegal stone crushers and brick kilns operating in their locality.
An indefinite blockade will be imposed on the National Highway-37 if the illegal stone crushers and brick kilns are not shut by April 3, the residents have warned.
Despite formal complaints lodged with the office of the DC Imphal West, the Director of Trade, Commerce& Industries (DTCI), the Manipur Pollution Control Board, and the Forest Department, the industrial units continue to operate in blatant violation of the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981, the Manipur Conservation of Paddy Land and Wetland Act 2014, and the Factories Act, 1948, said the Moidangpok Khulen Women's Society and the Recent Youth Club, Moidangpok in a joint statement.
Although the Court of the CJM had previously convicted seven owners of stone crushing units, these facilities remain operational, defying judicial orders, they said.
While the DTCI had recently served closure notices to these seven convicted owners, new and unauthorized stone crushers and brick fields have come up in the area, they added.
The illegally operated industrial units are taking an environmental and physical toll on the villagers due to unregulated air pollution. Further, paddy fields have been affected and contaminated, the organisations added.
The residents of Moidangpok and surrounding villages want the Government and its relevant authorities to conduct a comprehensive legality check of all newly established stone crushers and brick fields, they said.
Further, all units which have been served with closure notices must be physically sealed off, and ensure that all industrial activity in the region are in compliance with the Manipur Conservation of Paddy Land and Wetland Act 2014 and relevant forest conservation laws, the organisations added.
If concrete action is not taken by April 3, the residents of Moidangpok will be forced to block the NH-37 indefinitely. "We do not want to cause public inconvenience, but the Government's inaction has left us with no other choice," said the organisations.
IMPHAL, Apr 1 : The residents of Moidangpok, Moidangpok Khunou, and New Keithelmanbi have issued an ultimatum to the State Government, demanding the immediate closure of all illegal stone crushers and brick kilns operating in their locality.
An indefinite blockade will be imposed on the National Highway-37 if the illegal stone crushers and brick kilns are not shut by April 3, the residents have warned.
Despite formal complaints lodged with the office of the DC Imphal West, the Director of Trade, Commerce& Industries (DTCI), the Manipur Pollution Control Board, and the Forest Department, the industrial units continue to operate in blatant violation of the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981, the Manipur Conservation of Paddy Land and Wetland Act 2014, and the Factories Act, 1948, said the Moidangpok Khulen Women's Society and the Recent Youth Club, Moidangpok in a joint statement.
Although the Court of the CJM had previously convicted seven owners of stone crushing units, these facilities remain operational, defying judicial orders, they said.
While the DTCI had recently served closure notices to these seven convicted owners, new and unauthorized stone crushers and brick fields have come up in the area, they added.
The illegally operated industrial units are taking an environmental and physical toll on the villagers due to unregulated air pollution. Further, paddy fields have been affected and contaminated, the organisations added.
The residents of Moidangpok and surrounding villages want the Government and its relevant authorities to conduct a comprehensive legality check of all newly established stone crushers and brick fields, they said.
Further, all units which have been served with closure notices must be physically sealed off, and ensure that all industrial activity in the region are in compliance with the Manipur Conservation of Paddy Land and Wetland Act 2014 and relevant forest conservation laws, the organisations added.
If concrete action is not taken by April 3, the residents of Moidangpok will be forced to block the NH-37 indefinitely. "We do not want to cause public inconvenience, but the Government's inaction has left us with no other choice," said the organisations.