A team of experts from Pollution Control Board inspected a stone crusher unit at Venketapur under Kasingar block following the complaints lodged by an affected farmer M Chandrapati Rao. The farmer sustained crop loss due to dust emanating from the crusher unit. But the expert team denied to give any comment and said their report would only be placed before the authorities.
The team comprising senior scientist of State Pollution Control Board (SPCB) Dilip Kumar Behera; environment engineer of Central Pollution Board, Kolkata, Sandip Kumar; engineer of Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board Lakshmi Nanarayana and SPCB regional officer Prakash Mohapatra interacted with the locals.
Sources said work of road widening works from Kasinagar to Labanyagada was entrusted to BRC company in 2011. To use the metals and chips, the company established the mega crusher unit at Venketapur.
As the dust generated from the crusher unit caused extensive damage to the crops and polluted the area, Rao lodged complaint before Central Pollution Control Board and National Green Tribunal which sent the expert team to inquire into the matter.