A human chain was formed by about 200 children of Nirmala Convent, under the aegis of Uttarandhra Rakshana Vedika, at Gnanapuram on Tuesday to protest against the pollution caused by the port and other industries.
The children stopped traffic for about 15 minutes and raised slogans against the polluting industries that were playing with their health. Vedika president S. Shiva Shankar told the gathering that pollution that was confined to the Old Town now spread its tentacles to Gnanapuram and other areas.
He said that about 40 per cent of the residents of Gnanapuram had moved to safer places after vacating their homes.
Alarming
The problem at Gnanapuram was alarming as there were many educational institutions to which over 25,000 students attend everyday. A new type of pneumonia was identified among the people living in the area.
A demonstration was also held at Jagadamba junction as part of the weeklong agitation launched by the Vedika. Mr. Shiva Shankar said that at the end of the week protests and rallies were planned in the port area.
Principal of Nirmala Convent V. Sanjeeva Rao, who has also taken up a crusade against pollution at Gnanapuram, and advocate M.A. Rasool participated in the programme.
