Dow special panel report gathers dust

A senior member of MPCB said,“The government has yet to take any decision on the committee’s report.” The committee was to conduct site inspections and hear the grievances/complaints of public regarding the project. It was also to look into the possible damages the proposed R&D centre could likely cause to the environment in terms of health,ground water pollution,air pollution.

With the status quo maintained at the site,the company officials in a press statement said the construction of the project has been on hold since September 2008 as per the direction of the state government. The company officials stated that even as they were evaluating all options for the ongoing tenability location,they were awaiting the committee report.

“We will take a decision only after we get to know the committee report,” said a company spokesperson. However,the 150 scientists recruited have been working — on energy,water,health,construction,transportation,personal and household care — from a temporary location in the city.

Activists and villagers of the Shinde village in Chakan maintain that the company should not be allowed to operate till they take on all the liabilities of the Union Carbide in Bhopal.

“We want that the company to take the responsibility instead of the government taking the onus. Unless they take on the liability they should not be allowed to operate in any part of the country,” said activist Neeraj Jain.

Meanwhile,the villagers are happy that they have succeeded in keeping the company from operating on their grazing land.