KOCHI: Nitta Gelatin India Ltd (NGIL) has sought protection for its plant and properties at Kathikkudam in Thrissur district.
Pointing to alleged repeated attacks against its plant and properties, the company, a joint venture of Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation Ltd and Nitta Gelatin Group of Japan, urged the government to take stern action against miscreants.
“A 900-metre-long pipeline, which carries treated water from the factory to the Chalakkudy river, is often the target of attack. A recent incident brought production at the plant to a standstill for almost three weeks since October 23,” said Sajiv K. Menon, managing director, Nitta Gelatin.
The company claimed that a five-metre-long stretch of the pipeline that passed through a private land was being frequently damaged by miscreants.
For the record, the company had purchased the rest of the land through which the pipeline passes. Tree trunks, sand bags, steel sheets, and even crude bombs were found inserted into the pipeline, the management alleged.
“Apart from the adverse impact on the profitability of the company, we have not been able to meet our export commitments in a highly competitive market owing to disruption in production,” Mr. Menon said.
The Kerala High Court had issued directions to the State government to provide protection to the assets of the company, including its pipeline, to ensure uninterrupted operations. The attacks have taken place in blatant violation of the court order, he alleged.
However, locals refuted the company’s charges. “A commission appointed by the Chalakudy munsiff court had examined the pipeline that passes through the five cents of land owned by a private party, where the company had alleged vandalism. No blockage was detected in the pipeline in the area. The commission has already submitted its report to the court,” said Anil Kumar of Kathikkudam.
Alleging that NGIL is pumping untreated effluents into the Chalakudy river, the NGIL Action Council said the paddy fields, through which the pipeline passes, had dried up due to leakage of chemicals.
The Chalakudy munsiff court had recently given an injunction to the company against disturbing the irrigation canal near the company, the action council noted. NGIL pipelines have been laid beneath the canal, it said.
