With pollution on rise, villagers say no to pharma co’s expansion

​Choutuppal: Most of the villages of Choutuppal division in Yadadri district are in the clutches of chemical pollution with increasing number of pharma companies. In Dothigudem, air, water and land got polluted due to the establishment of seven industries in the village.

A large number of pharma, bulk drug and chemical industries came up in Pochampally, Choutuppal and neighbouring Chityal mandal. As many as 75 industries were established in these mandals. Except few, majority of industries are found violating the environmental rules.

Most of the companies do not have pollution controlling equipment and they are dumping the wastes in nearby agriculture lands through tankers without treating it prior. Going further, few companies have dug bores on the premises and sending the wastages directly into them by contaminating the ground water.

It was observed that in Dothigudem and Anthammgudem, the ground water emanating stink and become unfit for consumption and irrigation purpose. Animals which drank the ground water were found suffering from skin deceases, while some even dead. Further, the farm lands have become useless with orchids yielding low when the ground water used for irrigation.

Vexed with the increasing pollution levels, affected villagers of Choutuppal and other surrounding mandals were migrating to other places. locals allege that officials were not responding to their complaints despite several requests.

Expressing their concern, villagers of Dothigudem and surrounding villages had conducted a protest last month. On Wednesday, they raised their objections before the Joint Collector Ravi Naik to the expansion of Ajola Pharma Industry in Dothigudem during a public hearing conducted by the District Pollution Control Board.

Officials informed that they have recorded the pleas of people and would submit it to Centre for future course of action. A large number of police was deployed at the venue to avoid any untoward incidents.