Asks company to initiate and implement appropriate measures to check dust pollution
Dimapur, April 8 (MExN): The Medziphema Town Youth Organisation (MTYO) has today stated that the public in its jurisdiction are facing “hazardous dust pollution” caused from the ongoing four-lane project works “due to the continued lackadaisical, self-centered attitude” of the ECI company – the contractor working between Patkai bridge and Piphema.
In a press communiqué, the MYTO maintained that it was compelled to publish the grievances as several appeals to the company remained unheeded.
"Public leaders have repeatedly appealed to the company for watering the whole stretch of road under construction but till date, ECI barely waters Zero point area of the Town once or twice in a day which again, is done haphazardly thereby drying up within minutes of spray-watering," it stated.
The Medziphema Village Council, Medziphema Town Mechü Krotho, Medziphema Town Youth Organisation, Chairman’s' Forum, Medziphema Area Villages, and Ward 4 & 5, Medziphema Town have already approached the contractor with officially written requests, the communiqué claimed.
However, ECI "has not taken effective action of watering the length and breadth of road-cutting areas,” it said.
"As a responsible contractor, it must abide by the rules of the work order, MoU, etc. as also other humanitarian obligation and take responsibility to water and keep the whole stretch of road-cutting works free from dust at anytime of the day," it added.
MTYO also revealed that it had discussed the pertinent issue with ECI officials on a number of occasions “both in written as well as verbal” but it has "has fallen on deaf ears till today”
Several “dust pollution related diseases have taken a heavy toll on the denizens particularly children which can be aptly authenticated from the lone hospital in town or even from medicine outlets, pharmacies, health workers, etc,” it alleged.
In this connection, MTYO stated that it “cannot compromise the rights of people” and asked the ECI “to initiate and implement appropriate measures to arrest the unprecedented level of dust pollution along the whole stretch in its jurisdiction at the earliest without excuses.”
The whole stretch of road should remain moist or dust-free, a prerequisite in the work order, which otherwise, has serious health implications, it added.
While stating that any attempt by ECI to prolong “a negligent attitude may even lead to unforseen, ugly incidents,” the MYTO informed that company “should be responsible to settle matters for a cordial relationship with the public in such a situation.”
It further requested media houses to conduct further detailed survey and report on the serious health implications of dust pollution for humans.
