Pics: Umesh Marpalli
Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (SP)

Udupi, Apr 13: Dr Deviprasad Shetty, vice president of Karnataka State Panchayat Union, has demanded a thorough inquiry into the transparency of Suzlon project near Padubidri. He wanted this investigation to be held with the participation of the deputy commissioner of this district by deputy labour commissioner of Hassan in the presence of media persons. He alleged that Suzlon has been making use of basic plastic substance that is poisonous, for manufacturing of blades. Because of this, entry of general public has been banned there, and the labourers have to work with face masks to protect themselves from this poison, he stated.

"People are not freely allowed inside Suzlon like in Udupi Power Corporation Ltd plant. It projects itself as environmentally sustainable industry. If their claim is true, what are the defects that the industry wants to hide, which have compelled it to even not allow the local police entry inside the project area?" he wanted to know. He asked the district administration to make public the things which the company wants to avoid from becoming public knowledge.

Recent protest at Suzlon

Dr Shetty noted that the labourers working for Suzlon have no life and job security and that they are being treated like bonded labour. "The industry has failed to follow even the safety precautions to be followed in case of emergencies like fire tragedies to ensure safety of its working class. The officials of the concern are not prepared to give information about how the poisonous plastic waste arising out of the blade manufacture is being disposed off. This issue needs to be subjected to investigation through officials of environment department," he insisted.

He further stated that Suzlon also faces allegation of land grabbing in the name of special economic zone, adding that the company has also been lagging behind in the matter of use of corporate social responsibility fund. He said that the condition of roads lying close to the project area is pitiable and Suzlon has failed to extend help for infrastructure development.