Crops withering away due to pollution caused by sponge iron unit

MOGILIDIDDA (Mahbubnagar): Farmers are up in arms against a sponge iron unit which, they allege, is not only polluting the air but also the groundwater sources in this village in Mahbubnagar's Farooqnagar mandal. While residents of Mogilididda and nearby Kandivanam, Elikatta villages complain about respiratory and skin-related problems, farmers say their crops are withering away thanks to the fine dust, ash and black smoke released from the sponge iron unit.
Farmer Gunnam Shankaraiah, who cultivated mango in his field close to the factory at Nandivanam, said the fruits began to flower but the entire crop withered in a few days. "With the ash and dust let out from the sponge iron unit enveloping the field, there was no way the crop could be saved. I have lost all my investments of Rs 1.5 lakh on the crop. Who will bear the loss," he questioned.
Paddy, cotton, maize, bengal gram are cultivated in these two villages but the pollutants released from the Kedia Alloys unit are destroying the crops. A PIL was filed way back in 2006 demanding the authorities to close down the sponge iron units in Shadnagar and Jadcherla segments but no action has been taken till now. A retired Army captain L K Reddy, who resides in the village, brought the matter to the notice of the government. Villagers also complain that the roads have been damaged beyond repair with the lorries transporting raw material to the unit. "Will the authorities please rescue us from this torture? Cattle are dying after consuming the polluted water. Children are falling sick," rued Praveen, another farmer.