Bogged by environmental pollution in their neighbourhood, we residents of Reliable Tranquil Layout, a 116-plot BDA approved layout off Sarjapur and the neighbouring Reliable Residency layout are protesting against Ultratech Ready Mix Cement Concrete Plant (formerly known as Birla Ready Mix Cement Concrete Plant), located on Haralur Main Road.

Our owners’ welfare associations have now petitioned Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) to intervene in the matter. See copy of petition here.

The cement plant is very close to residences. Pic: Reliable Tranquil Layout Owners Welfare Association.

The cement plant is causing air, water and sound pollution in the residential layout. The plant produces and emits minute cement particles which have settled on homes and on plants and trees. These particles are adversely affecting our health, particularly aggravating respiratory problems. A water test of bore wells near the plant, that we commissioned, has indicated the water to be nonpotable.

Ultratech has dumped jelly stones and sand, used as raw materials, along the compound wall of the layout which has led to the breaking of the wall. This has led to anti-social elements entering the layout. We have submitted photographs of the collapsed compound and garbage accumulated in the layout.

Large amount of material dumped at the cement plant. Pic: Reliable Tranquil Layout Owners Welfare Association.

Repeated complaints to the plant managers over the past six years, verbal and through email, to shift the plant from a residential locality have fallen on deaf ears. Though the management assured that something would be done, nothing had been done so far. ⊕