Madikeri: Virajpet MLA AS Ponnanna intervened and held a meeting with villagers of Echuru and owners of asphalt manufacturing units to discuss problems caused by the units. This followed villagers’ protest seeking their closure. Following the meeting, the unit owners agreed to shut them down and shift the units by May 31. Ponnanna said the asphalt manufacturing unit started in 2017 by two villagers after getting permission from the gram panchayat. The owners converted the land and continued the unit after receiving permission for 10 years from the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) in 2021. The GP later refused to provide a NoC following opposition from the villagers, he said. He said the owners then approached the court and received permission to continue the unit, and a PIL by the villagers was later filed. He added that when he visited the spot, he observed that the unit caused pollution. The villagers reiterated their complaint of increased pollution and demanded closure. However, unit owners Naveen and Thimmaiah said the asphalt units functioned as per the law and that closure would lead to severe financial losses. KSPCB officer Raghuram, who attended the meeting, instructed the owners to curb pollution from the unit and ordered it to function from 8am to 6pm without causing inconvenience to villagers.
