Home Minister Tamradhwaj Sahu called an important meeting at the Collectorate on Wednesday regarding extensive industrial pollution in Rasmada industrial area of Durg. Directors of all industries along with Collector, Panch and Sarpanch of Rasmada village and all officers were present in the meeting.

In meeting, Home Minister strongly reprimanded the officers and industry operators for spreading industrial pollution beyond the standard.

Home Minister Tamradhwaj Sahu spoke to the media after the review meeting at Collector Durg Auditorium. He told that after the construction of Rasmada factory, air pollution has increased a lot in the village and the surrounding area. He told that the villagers have been opposing it for many years. Even when he was a Member of Parliament, this problem had come in front of him. He had taken cognizance of this and called a meeting and reprimanded the officers and instructed them to work properly and install pollution control machines. Since then the pollution level here was fine. Burt for the past few months, the situation had again become worse than before. In protest against this, the sarpanch and panch of Rasmada staged chakkajam with the help of the villagers. Although the villagers did

not give advance notice of the protest demonstration, which is wrong, but their demand was correct. Regarding this, the Home Minister had instructed the Collector to rectify the situation.

During the meeting, the Home Minister sought information from the Pollution Department and administrative officials as to what percentage of local people have been given employment in the industries operating in Rasmada, if not given then why not given. Along with this, he also sought information as to how many factories have installed machines for pollution control and what is their condition. The Home Minister also has sought information from Collector Pushpendra Meena regarding the works done by the companies under the CSR head. Why is CSIDC not making the road of encroachment? If there is any reason, the filling work should be done for the time being. He has directed the Collector that he needs a complete report within one week and said that the meeting will be called again after 15 days.