Visakhapatnam: Ryots oppose construction of pharmaceutical unit

Visakhapatnam: As a part of the 15-day-long protest, a group of 10 farmers from villages such as Kottapakala, Pampadipeta and Ontimamidi of Thondangi mandal approached Jana Sena Party's (JSP) regional office and expressed their serious concern over the commencement of construction of a pharmaceutical unit by Divi's Laboratories in the mandal.

Members of the Divi's Vyatireka Porata Committee shared with the JSP leaders that people from these villages continue to spend sleepless nights and resorted to hunger strikes ever since they came to know of the company's proposal.

Expressing solidarity with the committee members, general secretaries of JSP T Sivasankar Rao and Bolisetti Satyanarayana said both the TDP and the YSRCP had broken their promises. They alleged that constructing the unit at the mandal will affect the lives of 30,000 villagers.

Addressing the farmers, Sivasankar Rao assured the villagers that the Jana Sena Party will stand by them and will do all possible legal help to help protect livelihood of the villagers.

While interacting with the locals, Bolisetty Satyanarayana pointed out that the company's Bheemunipatnam unit itself has become a threat to the marine life and livelihood of fishermen. "About 16 villages were affected due to pollution. Therefore, we should not permit any more such pharmaceutical units unless it is proved that the new set up adheres to the conditions imposed by Pollution Control Board," he stated.

Earlier, the JSP leaders said, one of the protesters P Pamparaju, who took part in the stir, passed away a few days back.