Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (SP)

Udupi, Nov 17: The police have arrested two persons in connection with an incident in  which unbearable stench enveloped the entire Hejmady village near Pradubidri on  Saturday November 15. The two, it is gathered, belong to a firm named Karnataka Traders, which functions outside Suzlon industrial area near Pradubidri.

Both the arrested persons, identified as Muhammed Amzad Khan (28) and Moidin Khan  (38), who are said to be hailing from Uttar Pradesh, were produced before the judge  here on Sunday. 

Moidin Khan had bought the land in which the above firm, which deals with scrap,  functions. The site is located within Palimar gram panchayat limits. Muhammed Amzad  Khan happens to be the manager of the firm.The two used to accumulate scrap from  various sources including Suzlon industrial area and Bykampady Industrial Area and  trade them for various purposes. Tahsildar of the taluk, Guruprasad, said that a few  drums containing chemicals the two had bought from Total Gas refilling station had  caused the spread of unbearably strong smell, which in turn created a scare among the  people.

The tahsildar explained that the chemical compound that is traditionally used to lend  pungent smell to the gas contained in the barrels bought by the above concern from  Total Gaz refilling plant was responsible for exposing people of the area to the risk of  suffering from breathlessness.He said that the firm had unscientifically disposed off the  chemical by emptying the barrels which got filled with rainwater into drains in an  unscientific manner. ‘Out of 16 such barrels, the two had emptied 13 in this way. After I  visited the spot, I arranged for sending the three remaining barrels and also the 13  empty barrels to the waste disposal unit at Karnad near Mulky,’ said environmental  officer, Rajashekhar Puranik, explained.

It transpires that there had been complaints in the past too against the above unit from  the villagers. Station house officer of Pradubidri, Azmat Ali, said that case under  provisions relating to storage of poisonous substances and destruction of evidence has been registered against the duo. He said samples relating to the incident are being  sent to forensic laboratory and test reports are awaited.