Bjp Mlas Accuse Raman Singh Govt Over Pollution In Bastar

BJP MLAs accuse Raman Singh govt over pollution in Bastar

by PTI, Raipur

22nd February 2006

Three BJP MLAs accused their own party government of having failed to control industrial pollution in tribal-dominated Bastar region of Chhattisgarh.

Through a call attention motion in the state Assembly, Lachchuram Kashyap and Beduram Kashyap, both BJP MLAs from Bastar, said sponge and other industries were spreading pollution in their region.

"Sponge, crusher and other industries were polluting the atmosphere and the government was doing nothing to check that," Lachchuram Kashyap told the house.

Agriculture lands were becoming barren because of the pollution by these industries, he said adding because of that the people are angry and one such industry was closed for three days from January 3 following stiff opposition from the villagers of Keshlur area of the district.

However, environment minister Ganesh Ram Bhagat claimed there was no pollution because of the industries in Bastar region.

The minister also said "from time to time pollution was being checked".

Unhappy over the minister's statement, Kashyap said how the officials got to knew whether the industries were polluting the areas or not, "when we and not the officials are residing in that area".

Supporting them, Devji Bhai Patel, a BJP MLA from Raipur district, alleged that under the protection of the officials, industries in Bastar region are spreading pollution.