Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Marchak residents raise concerns over Industrial Growth Centre

RAISE HEALTH CONCERNS OVER PLASTIC PRODUCTION AND OTHER DISAPPOINTMENTS
GANGTOK, 07 Nov: The locals of Marchak, 8th Mile, Ranipool, extending their gratitude towards the Chief Minister, Pawan Chamling for having established the Industrial Growth Centre in the area have however expressed their doubts on the kind of activities this Centre is carrying out and have appealed to the government to scrap the idea of developing the area as an Industrial Growth Centre.
A press release issued by Yogesh Pradhan and Tara Man Rai on behalf of all the locals of Marchak, 8th Mile informs that the locals have come to learn that the land for developing Industrial Growth Centre was bought at a cost of around Rs. 40-50 crores by the Government and the people had looked forward to it in addressing problems such as electricity, road connectivity and water being faced by the locals there. 
However, the locals are disappointed to learn that these industrial units are engaged in plastic production, which the release contends is an irony given the fact that Sikkim is one of the first states to ban the use of plastic.
“If such activities of plastic production continues then the present and as well the coming many generations would face health hazards”, adds the release. 
The release further informs that it has come to the knowledge of the public that a private godown has been constructed and they are curious as to why such setting up of private godown on land declared for industrial use has been allowed by the concerned department.  
The locals have also raised concerns over the kind of goods that these godowns are dealing with and have suggested that the concerned department inspect these godowns, further informing that the godowns bear no government sign boards as such.  
The release further contends that the public there have learnt that the land is also being used as a garage for fixing heavy vehicles and express that had the land been used for other noble purposes such as establishing educational and health institutions it would have catered to the poorer section.  
The release also informs that there are power cuts on a regular basis at Marchak, especially at the time when the children settle down for their daily revisions at home, for which a grievance was placed before the department but to no avail.
The problem of drinking water is another issue which has multiplied the problems of the people there, the release adds.
The public has further expressed their grievance that inspite of the government spending around Rs. 64 lakhs to ensure water supply, the public are not receiving drinking water as was expected. The water source from where around 60-70 houses receive water has been rendered inept due to setting up of the industries there and the public demands that the industries provide an alternative.
The locals here have also started to develop a sense of insecurity owing to the increase in unfamiliar faces, and have realized a need of street lights along Ranipool to Science Centre or a footpath.
The people have appealed to the government to look into the matter and take immediate action to counter the situation, the release adds.

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