Govt panel to assess Dow project

Dow proposes to set up a research and development centre. Villagers have been agitating against it alleging that it would pollute the river Indrayani. On September 26, the CM8217;s office issued a stay order on the project while the CM pledged to set up a committee.

The three-member panel includes IIT-Bombay scientist Dr SK Gupta and Groundwater Survey and Development Authority GSDA, Pune, official SB Khandale. Member secretary of the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board MPCB Sanjay Khandare will be the secretary to the committee.

8220;The committee will hear the grievances and complaints of the public and conduct site inspections,8221; Nair told The Indian Express from Mumbai.

The committee will examine whether it is likely to cause damage to the environment in terms of health, ground water pollution and air pollution. It will check whether the proposed centre has a sound plan on environment impact assessment and environmental management; it will also examine the list of chemicals and raw materials and plans for their storage, transportation and waste disposal. At the site, the committee will take the views of local people, NGOs and government agencies.

During the agitation, most political parties have climbed on the anti-Dow bandwagon. The Warkaris, who are spearheading the agitation, constitute almost 70 per cent of their vote bank.