Date:05/12/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/05/stories/2008120559790300.htm

Tamil Nadu

Smoke forces residents to resort to agitation

Staff Reporter

STANDSTILL: Irate residents of Sirumugai blocking road on Thursday.

Mettuppalayam: More than 500 irate residents of Sirumugai, near Mettuppalayam, blocked road near the defunct South India Viscose factory and near the Alankombu bridge on Thursday morning.

They agitated over the “unabated” theft and vandalism of the SIV factory.

The gangs involved in stealing iron scrap frequently set fire to chemical waste dumpyard causing smoke. In November, a fire at the factory caused breathing problems to the residents.

Following complaints, the Superintendent of Police, Coimbatore Rural District, G. Karthikeyan, constituted special teams led by Deputy Superintendent of Police, Periyanaickenpalayam sub-division, Rajan to arrest the culprits.

The teams also patrolled the Bhavani river and destroyed nearly ten coracles used by gangs to enter the factory premises and escape with stolen iron scrap.

On Thursday morning, the residents noticed smoke emanating from the factory premises.

The smoke caused breathing problems, suffocation and burning sensation for them.

The agitated residents first squatted near the factory premises and when the smoke caused serious problems they marched for more than 1 km and blocked the bridge. As a result, traffic was affected.

The Mettuppalayam tahsildar, B. Muthuramalingam, and the DSP held talks with the residents who demanded the presence of the Collector and the SP for a permanent solution.

They wanted permanent posting of police in the area. The fire was put out at around 1 p.m. Around 2.30 p.m., the residents withdrew the agitatio.