Dakshina Kannada District administration orders closure of mushroom factory on health concerns

MANGALURU: The Dakshina Kannada District administration on Sunday ordered the shutting down of the mushroom factory, operating at Ashraya Nagara, Vamanjoor, in the outskirts of the city, based on reports received from officials, who investigated the matter.
Dakshina Kannada deputy commissioner Ravi Kumar M R, addressed the protestors who had sat on an indefinite dharna from the past four days and said: I have heard your appeals that you are not able to live in this area due to health issues caused by the operation of the mushroom factory. I have received required information and reports. Based on that I have ordered the closure of the unit immediately.
The announcement was greeted with loud cheers by the protesting public.
Riyaz Ahmed who was at the protest site said that the DC had announced it orally at 11.30am. ``We are waiting for the official order and then only we will vacate the place of protest. The DC is busy with the visit of Minister for Health and Family Welfare and Dakshina Kannada district minister Dinesh Gundu Rao, and may be delayed when we receive the written order. Till then we will sit here,’’ he added.
The factory allegedly partnered by a former MLA has been operating from the past one and half years in a residential area. Frustrated with no action from officials after repeated complaints, the residents decided to take matters into their own hands and sat on an indefinite dharna from Thursday. The protest received good support with shops and establishments in the Vamanjoor area shutting down their establishments for half a day, in support of residents.
The protesting public alleged the factory operating amidst a residential area having about 190 houses, was creating a lot of health problems, allergies, breathing issues, allegedly due to the chemicals being sprayed inside the factory to contain the foul smell while harvesting and processing mushrooms.