India: villagers demand shifting of silicon factory in Arunachal Pradesh

In Arunachal Pradesh, local villagers demand that a silicon factory operating in the East Siang district be moved to an isolated location. The villagers claimed that the factory is causing water and air pollution, threatening the health of residents in the Ruksin area. They have submitted a petition to the East Siang deputy commissioner to relocate the facility elsewhere. The petition also opposes the intention of Alloy Craft LLP and M/s Arunachal Ferro Alloy companies to set up two additional silicon factories in the area. The contested silicon factory is part of the Niglok Industrial Growth Centre (IGC) and is run by M/s Aether Alloys LLP. According to Onong Tadeng, the general secretary of the IGC Pollution-Affected People’s Forum, the industrial authority obtained consent from local villagers to build the facility without informing them of its environmental implications. There was also no public hearing to discuss the project before approval.
In response to the petition, the state’s Industries Commissioner, Saugat Biswas, visited Niglok IGC and met representatives of the IGC-Pollution Affected People’s Forum to hear their grievances. The commissioner assured local villagers that he would convene a meeting with the State Pollution Control Board in Itanagar soon and issue directives to assess the pollution levels caused by the silicon factory. He added that he would take steps to resolve the problems faced by the local community immediately after the pollution test is performed by technical experts.