FARMERS’ anger erupted on Tuesday against the continuous chemical pollution being spread by the Lohia Group’s ethanol company operating in the Ram Peth area. For the past few days, toxic dust, smoke particles, and chemical residue emanating from the company’s chimneys have been settling on the sur rounding fields as a black layer. This is causing damage to cotton, pigeon pea, and soybean crops. Farmers said that a thick layer of fine black particles is visible in the fields early in the morning, the leaves are burning, and crop growth has stopped.

 

Many farmers said that cotton, which is called white gold, is now turning black, causing them financial losses. A large number of farmers staged a protest, raising slogans in front of the company gate. The farmers said that they would no longer tolerate this pollution that is destroying their crops. They demanded that the administration and the Pollution Control Board take immediate action, otherwise, their agitation would become more aggressive.

 

The farmers accused the company management of negligence, say ing that despite repeated complaints, neither the pollution has decreased nor have their grievances been addressed. Several farmers said that even the soil in the fields is becoming hard, and the water sources are also being affected.

Farmers’ demands

 

THE protesting farmers demanded that the pollution control equipment be immediately inspected, the polluting units be temporarily shut down, and a survey of the damage be conducted and compensation be given to the farmers. The farm ers appeared furious over the company management's negli gence. It is noteworthy that the company management is ignor ing the farmers' concerns, and if this continues, a major agitation could erupt in the area in the future.