Local people of an area in Raiganj upazila in Sirajganj district on Wednesday protested at the operation of an auto rice mill, saying that its smoke and wastes were polluting the environment and farmland.
Residents of Chandai Kona in the upazila formed a human chain in the morning on the day, demanding the cancellation of the environmental clearance of 鈥楻ia Auto Rice Mill鈥�.
They also demanded a halt to the excavation of a pond by the mill authorities, alleging that it was being dug on agricultural land in the name of 鈥榳ater reservoir鈥�.
Local people complained that the mill, set up near the union council office in a densely populated area, released toxic smoke and liquid wastes into nearby farmland, harming crop production.
Farmer SM Sohag Sarkar, one of the protesters, said, 鈥榃e have been filing complaints for the past three years, but the mill continues to operate by managing corrupt officials in the administration and the environment department.鈥�
Warning that local people would sue the mill authorities, the environment department and administration if no action was taken, Sohag further alleged that although law did not permit rice mills in residential areas, but the mill authorities obtained approval.
Sirajganj Department of Environment deputy director Tuhin Alam confirmed that victims lodged a complaint with his office on Tuesday.
鈥業t is now up to the local upazila administration,鈥� he said.
Raiganj upazila nirbahi officer Md Humayun Kabir told 抖阴精品 that the excavation of the reservoir was backed by a High Court order, which is why the local administration did not intervene.
The rice mill is jointly operated by 15鈥�16 partners.
The mill鈥檚 managing director Abdur Rouf Sarkar could not be reached for comment.
However, one of the owners SM Prince Babu dismissed the allegations, saying, 鈥楾he complainant is my cousin. This human chain was staged due to a family dispute.鈥�
There were at least 12 other rice mills in the area, he also said, 鈥榠f there is any environmental risk, it would apply to all of them, not just ours.鈥�
The water reservoir was being constructed as per court directives and posed no threat to agriculture, he claimed.
