Locals up in arms against tea factory

Villagers of Rahut Bagan under Kharia gram panchayat in Jalpaiguri district today started a relay hunger strike demanding immediate action against a tea bought leaf factory.
According to the agitators, the machines of the factory generate intolerable noise creating problems for the villagers. “The cacophony has caused cracks on the walls of our house and led some people to develop hearing and other physical problems. It creates mental agony for the children as well. Our protests have so far fallen on deaf ears, forcing us to launch a hunger strike,” said Mr Biswanath Dey, one of the agitators.
Mr Dulal Roy, another agitator, said that Madhyamik examinees of the village suffered the most during examinations and that Higher Secondary candidates were now suffering from the same problem. “We have been protesting since 2003 without success,” he claimed.
Madhubala Sarkar, a 70-year-old woman, also joined the programme today. “The administration should consider our condition and ban the factory immediately, or we will intensify our stir,” she said.
The Jalpaiguri district magistrate Mrs Vandana Yadav said that she would inquire into the matter. “If the complaint proves correct we will immediately ban the bought leaf factory for creating noise pollution,” she said.