Resident of Valasapalli, Thummalapalli and Nidujivvi villages in Yerraguntla mandal have urged Joint Collector M. Rama Rao and in-charge Kadapa RDO Lavanna not to renew the Nidujivvi limestone mining lease awarded to the Indian Cements Limited, alleging that blasting operations in the limestone quarry were causing damage to their houses.
Public hearing
As many as 300 villagers attended a public hearing meeting organised by the A.P. Pollution Control Board here on Friday.
Some villagers told the officials that they were facing difficulties in going to their agricultural fields for work during the blasting operations.
The villagers lamented the non-provision of jobs to local people in the plant.
Speaking at the meeting, YSRC leader Dr. Sudhir Reddy alleged that the ICL cement plant set up three decades ago was yet to provide education, health and drinking water facilities to local people.
A medical camp was being held once in four months, he said.
ICL vice-presidents Subhash Chandra Bose, John Verghese, Muni Reddy and Raghurami Reddy said that they were assisting the local residents under the corporate social responsibility scheme. Circle inspectors T.K. Reddy and Venkatasiva Reddy and sub-inspector Sanjeeva Reddy supervised the security bandobust for the meeting.
Blasting operations at the limestone quarry is damaging houses, they allege