Villagers seek shifting of leather industry

Bhongir: The leather processing industry on the outskirts of Cholleru and neighbouring villages is putting the lives of people and cattle in peril by recklessly dumping its waste on the village outskirts there by polluting the air and water bodies.

Villagers claimed that their cattle were contracting several diseases after drinking water from the ponds that are polluted with waste from the leather industry. They further stated that they would soon launch an agitation till the government shifts the industry to some other place. Complaining that the stench emanated from the factory was becoming unbearable with each passing day, they lamented that several of their cattle was losing their babies in the embryo stage.

Narsimha, a villager of Cholleru, said that he was forced to shift to Bhongir unable to bear the obnoxious smell from the factory. “Ponds in the villages are getting polluted as waste from the factory was making its way into ponds through rainwater. Recently, five goats lost their fetus after drinking water from a pond located close to the industry,” he informed.

With their appeals falling on deaf ears, the irked villagers have decided to stage a protest till the issue was resolved. In this connection, they formed a 21-member steering committee to lead the agitation against the leather industry.

Another villager Ramaiah informed that committee would conduct awareness meetings on ill-effects of pollution besides seeking the support of political parties to mount the pressure on the officials concerned to shut down the industry permanently.