Muchukunnu: Hunger strike on Vishu day against battery unit
The awareness programme has been organized to alleviate the fear of pollution over the project.
Kozhikode: Locals have upped their protest against the proposed battery assembling unit in Muchukunnu near Koyilandy after the official nod to proceed with the project. As part of the stir, people will observe a hunger strike on Vishu day from dawn to dusk. A mass resistance programme will be organised on April 16, at 4 pm at the premises of the S.A.R.B.T.M Govt College. The ‘Janakeeya Karma Samiti’ is also planning to organise a march to the venue of the awareness programme called by the Department of Industries, ground water department and Pollution Control board (PCB) on April 17.
The awareness programme has been organized to alleviate the fear of pollution over the project. “It doesn’t matter whether the proposed unit is manufacturing batteries or assembling batteries. For the people who reside nearby, the matter of concern is the coming up of an industry with Lead battery as the major raw material. Lead, lead oxide and red lead harm our environment,” says Vineesh. A.T, the joint convenor of the samiti. Currently, the samiti enjoys the patronage of all political parties and Moodadi gram panchayat.
The protest against Orion Company started in 2015 when it came to Muchukunnu to start its battery manufacturing unit. Following protests, the operation was stopped but subsequently the company changed the project to a battery assembling unit. When DC spoke to PCB officials, they affirmed that the proposed unit was a battery assembling unit and there was no need to worry over pollution. “The project envisions the assembling of battery, charging it and selling it. They cannot change it to a manufacturing unit without our consent,” said an Environmental Engineer at PCB Kozhikode office.
But the samiti’s argument is that the Orion company could not be trusted. “When they sought the panchayat’s permission for a battery manufacturing unit, what they falsely implied was that they were going to start a battery assembling unit,” points out Vineesh. Orion Automotive and Tubular Batteries Chairman M.P Babu said that he had got the approval of the PCB, SIDCO and the single-window clearance. “I invested Rs one crore for the unit in the 86.44 cent land,” he told DC.