Locals of Yairipok Khoirom Mathak Leikai in Thoubal district on Thursday disrupted officials from conducting Ambient Air Quality Monitoring and Ambient Noise Monitoring tests around the Minor Industrial Estate (MIE) Plywood Factory and Sawmill located near the area.
The officials of Manipur Pollution Control Board arrived at the site around the MIE plywood factory and sawmill to conduct the Ambient Air Quality Monitoring and Ambient Noise Monitoring test, in regard to the protest against the establishment of the factory and sawmill organised by JAC against the Establishing of the Khoirom MIE in Residential Area from June 4 onwards.
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The locals allegedly halted the officials from conducting the test and demanded for the unconditional shutdown and displacement of the MIR factories and sawmills. The local accused the factories and sawmills owners of hiring individuals to agree with the setting up of the factories during the public meeting at Khoirom Mathak Leikai multipurpose community hall on September 12.
In connection with the incident, Thoubal Forest Division DFO Th Lokendro said that the MIE was set up in 2018, and owing to a complaint by one Lourembam Tomba of the JAC, the Forest department had shut down the MIE from September 8 onwards.
While the JAC along with some locals demanded for the shutdown and displacement of the MIE, some locals had come up and appealed for the continuation of the MIE, he added.
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As the JAC had complained of noise pollution and air pollution from the MIE, the Forest department had notified the director of Pollution Control Board to authorise the air pollution and noise pollution test, he informed. He alleged that the locals stopped the officials from conducting the test, stating that the shutdown and displacement of the MIE had already been decided.
A local mentioned that there are two MIE plywood factories and many sawmills at Khoirom, and constructions of five more plywood factories are underway as well. Questioning if these establishments are licensed properly, the locals also condemned the continuous movement of heavy duty vehicles carrying to and fro at the local roads.
