Hundreds of residents of Khrew in Pulwama district Tuesday staged a protest demanding an end to pollution from cement factories and illegal mining in the area.The residents took to streets and staged a sit-in on the main road near the cement factories. They protested against the factory owners and demanded installation of pollution control devices. They were also demanding end to illegal mining and deforestation near the factories.The protesters said that they have been suffering immensely for last many years due to the pollution by the cement factories. But no one is listening to them,” Mushtaq Ahmed a local told CNS adding that their health, roads, agriculture, horticulture have suffered due to the dust emanating from the cement factories.The protesters said that cement factories are spread all over in the Khrew area due to which the people have lost their all resources as the emission of cement factories added to the pollution effecting the farming to a great extent.
“This forced the people to purchase trucks to earn their bread and butter. Another truck Union in the area which is in league with the authorities is however not allowing the trucks of the Zaffron Truck Association to operate as the Union has increased its influence on cement factories.” They appealed Governor of the State to direct concerned authorities to look into the matter and install pollution control devices in all the cement factories. “The factory owners were supposed to spend two percent of project cost on the safety and welfare of the local people but not a single factory owner is doing that,” they alleged. The locals warned that they will continue their protests until their demands are accepted. (CNS)