Kozhikode: Concerns prevail over battery unit

KOZHIKODE: Residents of Muchukunnu near Koyilandy have cold-shouldered the government officials’ attempts to take them into confidence on the proposed battery assembling unit there. The district administration held an awareness programme for the local community on Monday with the participation of officers from industries and groundwater departments and Pollution Control Board (PCB) in the wake of their stiff resistance. Industries officials made a presentation on the project and told them that the unit would assemble 390 batteries and consume 2,500 litres of water a day including domestic usage. The filling of water in the battery is automatic, and there is no possibility of spillover.

It will produce no waste water, and there will be no heating or melting of lead acid. “The industry falls under red category only because they assemble a higher number of batteries a day and not due to the hazard nature,” said an official. The unit is 25 metres off human inhabitation. As the people raised concern over the depletion of water, ADM T. Janil Kumar replied that groundwater measuring meter could be fit to assess the usage. Many have the suspicion of the company changing the assembling unit to battery manufacturing unit in future. To this, officials responded that an agreement to this effect could be entered into with the firm.

But people were not satisfied by their explanation.  The ‘Janakeeya Karma Samiti’ which spearheads protest, said that they had boycotted the meeting and would oppose the project tooth and nail. “We cannot permit a led acid based industry here,” affirmed Vineesh A.T., its joint convenor. They held a protest rally during the awareness programme. Authorities say they have nothing to do as the Orion, which makes automotive and tubular batteries, had adhered to all rules.