Around 400 villagers from Dhotigudem and surrounding villages in Bhoodan Pochampally mandal were up in arms, protesting against the expansion of a chemicals manufacturing and pharmaceuticals unit here on Wednesday morning.
Villagers vehemently opposed the move and came out in large numbers to register their objection in the public consultation meet held at the unit’s premises amidst tight police security.
“Our water is already polluted, even animals are diseased,” the villagers said.
Bulk drugs unit
M/s Hazelo Lab Pvt. Ltd., had applied for expansion of their manufacturing and pharmaceutical units under the Telangana State Industrial Project Approval & Self Certification System (TS–iPASS), and is currently in progress of pre-scrutiny and approval. The proposal aims at increasing its manufacturing capacity of the bulk drugs and intermediates.
“Dhotigudem, Anthammagudem, Jublakpalli will be severely affected,” the villagers cried. About 70 villagers represented the situation and their daily hardships owing to pollution of air and water by the laboratory to the panel that video-recorded the consultation process.
Proceedings recorded
Attempt by the promoters of the unit to convince the villagers saying the factory would create more employment also failed utterly, as the villagers united in a resounding “No”
“People from our villages don’t get marriage alliances. Such is the situation,” a young farmer said.
Joint Collector Gugulothu Ravi, who was the in charge of the public consultation said the villagers’ opinions along with remarks from the Environmental Engineer (EE) will be forwarded to the Ministry. The approvals or rejections and further clearances will be done by the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change.
RDO Bhupal Reddy, DRO Mahender Reddy and EE from the Telangana State Pollution Control Board (TSPCB) were among the panel.