RUKSIN, 23 Sep: Several women, including elderly women from Ngorlung, Ralung and Niglok villages under Ruksin Circle in East Siang district, on Tuesday resumed their movement against the silicon industry at Niglok by staging a material blockade against the factory.
The protesters said officials of the district administration and the chief executive officer (CEO) of the silicon factory, run by M/s Aether Alloys LLP, had assured them during a consultative meeting on 28 April this year that their demands would be fulfilled. However, they alleged that nothing has been done so far.
Earlier, in February, local villagers, including a sizable number of women, had launched an 'indefinite material blockade' against the silicon factory and blocked the Mirem-Mikong-Jonai PWD road at Ngorlung, thereby disrupting the transportation of raw materials and finished products to and from the factory.
The protesters also clashed with armed security personnel escorting material-laden trucks bound for the silicon industry at Niglok, leaving four policemen injured.
The villagers demanded that the factory be shifted from its present location at the Niglok Industrial Growth Centre, citing severe air and water pollution that they said was causing health hazards and crop damage. They alleged that neither the state government nor the factory authorities had paid heed to their grievances, eventually forcing them to intensify their movement against the factory.
Following the protests, officials of the Ruksin Sub-Divisional administration and the silicon factory CEO assured the protesters that a team of experts would monitor pollutants emitted from the factory and observe the air pollution index for six months. The officials also assured them of regular health screening programmes and remedial treatment for affected villagers through specialist doctors, besides compensation for horticultural crop damage caused by the factory.
However, the local villagers alleged that the industry authorities had failed to keep their assurances, causing dissatisfaction among the villagers. They have, therefore, resumed the material blockade.
As agreed during the consultative meeting, a team of experts will monitor pollutant emissions from the factory and observe the air pollution index. The team will also conduct health screening and treatment of local villagers through specialist doctors and ensure proper compensation.
The protesters had lifted the blockade against the ferrosilicon factory after the meeting, placing a seven-point demand before the factory authorities and waiting for their response.
