COIMBATORE: Alleging large-scale pollution from a foundry operating in their locality, residents of P K D Nagar at Peelamedu in the city submitted a petition to the district collector demanding appropriate action. "Exposure to foundry dust has caused severe respiratory problems to the residents and we are unable to cope with it," B Ramu, a resident said. Representing the issue to the district collector Archana Patnaik, residents said they have to keep almost everything covered in their houses as the dust enters their houses and spreads all over.
Claiming that they spend most of their time cleaning the dust, Ramu said large-scale pollution in this area is causing asthma and other allergies.
The foundry, which has been running for more than 25 years, does grey iron casting. "When dust and air pollution was normal we tolerated it but now it has increased beyond out tolerance level," said another resident. Residents had brought foundry dust in packets to show the district collector.
The petitioners also suspected that the foundry is emitting dust and smoke beyond permissible limits and demanded the authorities to ensure that the foundry follows all the norms. "We are expecting appropriate action from the authorities as no responsible action was taken by the foundry management despite our representations" Marisamy, another resident of P K D Nagar said.
The foundry management was unavailable for a comment.
A majority of the micro and small industries in Coimbatore are located in residential areas. In many places, the units and the residents are at loggerheads. A new scheme has been proposed by the chief minister to facilitate small industries to move out of residential areas to industrial clusters.
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