Hundreds of villagers from Bheemunipatnam mandal gathered at the Collectorate on Monday and raised slogans demanding that the expansion works of Divi’s Laboratories Limited be stopped immediately. They were also seeking jobs for locals in the existing plant.
The villagers, under the banner of the CPI(M), raised slogans seeking protection from pollution and an immediate halt to the expansion works.
The pollution caused from Divi’s Labs was leading to health problems in 17 villages of four panchayats in the mandal. The underground drinking water sources had become polluted and in some villages the water was not even fit for washing and cleaning due to oil and grime. Rheumatic pains, kidney problems, nervous problems, TB and eye diseases were rampant in the affected villages. Yield from farms and palm trees declined due to pollution. This resulted in migration of farmers from the affected villages.
The speakers alleged that the company management was using police force to suppress them. They found fault with the management for not employing locals though there were a good number of youths from the affected-villages who had the requisite qualification.
The major demands of the protesters include provision of permanent jobs, implementation of labour laws, spending of 2 per cent of profits on development of affected villages and provision of alternative employment to fishermen of Annavaram village who lost their livelihood due to pollution of coastal waters, and conduct of medical camps in the affected villages.
CPI(M) State secretariat member Ch. Narasinga Rao, district secretary K. Lokanadham, YSRC district president Amarnadh, MLC M.V.S. Sarma, CPI(M) Bheemili Division secretary R.S.N. Murthy, Divi’s Struggle Committee leader Ravva Narasinga Rao, and AIDWA president B. Prabhavathi were among those who addressed the gathering.
