Siliguri, 04th July: Residents of Thakurnagar rail gate area in the Fulbari-Dabgram Assembly Constituency staged a protest, alleging that contaminated water from a nearby factory was entering their homes.
According to reports, the area is home to liquor and chips factories, and the locals claim that the contaminated water from these factories has been causing health problems for a prolonged period. The situation worsened when a section of the factory wall collapsed due to heavy rainfall, leading to the spread of unhygienic water in the area.
The residents claimed that the contaminated water caused the deaths of cattle and migratory birds recently. In response, they entered the factory premises on Tuesday to express their grievances. The NJP Police Station dispatched a large police contingent to the scene upon receiving news of the protests.
Bhabatosh Roy, a Panchayat member representing the area, also arrived at the protest site. Roy stated that the factory had been notified multiple times through letters, but no action had been taken. The protestors warned of further agitation if their concerns were not addressed.
The General Manager of the company stated that they follow guidelines in their operations and attributed the water issue to the rainfall and unintentional circumstances. He assured that the company would investigate the matter further.