Corporators harassing us: Peenya industrialists

BANGALORE: In their efforts to fleece money from the industrialists in Peenya Industrial Area, the local corporators, who are supposed to fight for the cause of the industrialists, are asking the industrialists to close down their industries on the pretext that they are polluting the area though they are not authorized to do so.Peenya Plastic Manufacturers Association, president, Mahantesh said, “The local corporators go to certain industries and ask them to close down the industry.However, if the industrialist admits to their coercive tactics, they negotiate and fleece money and allow him to continue his business even if he is polluting the area.” According to Mahantesh, corporators and their supporters normally target industrialists from the other states as they do not dare to raise their voice against these corporators.The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India Southern Regional Council co-chairman, J Crasta said, “It is not just the industrialists from outside, even the local industrialists face this problem.Most of the industrialists are afraid of raising their voice because it is very difficult to comply with all the recommendations.The industrialists in the area expressed their disgust by extending their support to Anna Hazare and we believe that the Lokpal bill will check this to at least some extent.” According to Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB), member secretary, S M Puttabuddi, only the pollution control board and environment department is authorised to ask an industry to shut down or to check the pollution levels in any industry according to the act and others, including elected representatives, have to complain to the aforesaid departments if any industry is polluting the area and cannot check any industry or ask any industry to close down for polluting.Express spoke to Rajgopalnagar corporator H N Gangadhar.He flatly denied the allegations, and said: “I have acted legitimately.Some of the chemical industries are located in residential areas, and their industrial wastes are let out indiscriminately.I sought help from the KSPCB to serve notices to the defaulting industries.”