Mangalore: MCC seals illegal cement godown at Hoige Bazar
Pics: Ramesh Pandith
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (DV)
Mangalore, Sep 26: The officers of Mangalore city corporation (MCC) includng the environmental engineers and health inspectors on Thursday September 26 raided a cement godown at Hoige Bazar and sealed it.
Acting on complaints from the residents in the vicinity, the officers sealed the godown belonging to Madras Cements Ltd for creating pollution and operating without a valid licence.
Speaking to reporters, environment engineer Madhu Manohar said that the raid was carried out on the orders of MCC commissioner Ajith Hegde and MLA J R Lobo. "The residents here complained about the pollution caused during loading and unloading of cement from the goods wagon. They submitted an appeal to the DC, MCC and to the MLA," he said.
He said that the godown has been functioning from the past three years and does not have a licence. However, soon after the people complained, the firm applied for a licence from the MCC.
The MCC then sent two notices to the firm, both of which went unanswered. The MCC also asked the firm to shift the godown to an industrial area, yet there was no response. Hence, J R Lobo looked into the matter and MCC commissioner Ajith Hegde directed the officers to take action, Manohar said.
The officers told the manager of the godown, Arun, to apply for a fresh licence if operation has to resume.
Manager Arun told reporters that only one apartment near the godown was facing problem and not the entire vicinity.
MCC officials Bharat Kumar, Babu Malnur, Basarvaraj, Yashwant and Karunakar were part of the raid operation.