Protesters block NH, seek closure of grinding industry in Kathua

Our Correspondent

Kathua, August 29

Hundreds of residents residing near the Kathua Industrial area today staged a protest demonstration and blocked the Jammu–Pathankot national highway near Hatli morh for more than an hour on Wednesday. The protesters were demanding immediate closure of RK Grinding Industry which falls under the Red category.

A large number of people, including women, drawn from Hatli Morh, Govindsar, Sawan Chak and Check Ram Singh assembled at Hatli Morh and took out a protest demonstration on Thursday afternoon. The protesters came on to the road and blocked the Jammu-Pathankot national highway at Hatli Morh and raised slogans against the Pollution Control Board and the District Industries Centre, Kathua.

“Without following pollution control norms and environment threats, the Industry Department has given permission to RK Grinding Industry to set up a cement-based klinker industry of Red category, which is highly polluting,” Rajesh Mehta, who led the protest alleged. The protesters demanded shifting of the Red category industry and appealed to the Pollution Control Board Chairman not to issue the NOC to run the industry. ADC Ghansham Singh reached the spot and assured the protesters that tomorrow the administration would listen to their problems and sort out the issue. Long queues of vehicles were seen standing on both sides of the national highway. After nearly one hour, the vehicular movement was restored on the national highway.