Date:24/12/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/12/24/stories/2006122411730300.htm

Karnataka - Belgaum

People of Londa, Vedike activists lock up KSPCB office

Staff Correspondent

Belgaum: Angry villagers from Londa in Khanapur taluk and activists of Kannada Rakshana Vedike marched to the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) and locked the office here on Saturday and demanded action against the officials for their failure to prevent pollution allegedly by Kundil Sponge Iron Ltd. in Londa. Villagers of Londa had been complaining about the increasing pollution due to release of toxic materials.

They said emissions include carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, black dust, nitrogen dioxide, nickel fumes and so on, which could cause several health problems.

On Saturday morning, villagers and Kannada activists, led by vedike district president Raju Topannavar silently marched to the KSPCB office in Auto Nagar and locked its main entrance. Replying to their demands, the KSPCB officials promised to look into the problem at the earliest and report to their higher ups in Bangalore.