Rights panel orders closure of two mills in Manipur

Imphal, February 01: The Manipur Human Rights Commission today directed the Industries Commissioner to ensure closure of an oil mill at Kakching Khullen Ningthou Leikai and a rice mill at Chingmeirong East with immediate effect citing noise pollution and nuisance by the mills in the respective neighborhoods as the reason. The rights panel maintained that the opening of the mills should be done only after both have acquired no objection certificates from the immediate neighbors and renewed their licenses. It also said that if required, the Chief Inspector of Factories and Boilers may seek the help of police in carrying out the instructions. The Commissioner was also directed to ensure that there is no hazardous growth of industrial units in residential areas throughout the State. If such units are to be given license, it should pay full attention to the environmental and pollution aspects, it added. The recommendations were made by the Commission Member Yambem Laba on two complaint petitions. The first was filed by one N Akaban of Kakching Khullen Ningthou Leikai who contended that the oil mil] belonging to one M Manihar has given great discomfort to him and his family by the noise. W Mani of Chingmeirong East, an alleged heart patient filed the second petition against the rice mill owned by one K Bihari. He had complained that the rice mill has caused nuisance and noise pollution at the locality particularly in his family. In the cases, the rights commission not only called for reports but also examined in person the Chief Inspector, Deputy Chief Inspector and Inspector of Factories and also the Environmental Engineer and Junior Environmental Engineer of the Manipur Pollution Control Board. The commission sought the Action Taken Report by February 26. In another case, the commission issued notices to the Secretary/Commissioner and Director of Education (S) asking them to submit a detailed report on their alleged denial to pay due salaries of the 145 promoted plan Hindi graduates teachers. The panel asked the officials to submit their reports by February 19 and fixed the next day for further proceedings. The proceedings followed a complaint petition filed by the president and general secretary of the 145 Promoted Plan Hindi Graduate Teachers Association Y Shyamsundar and G Shyamananda. They complained that their salaries have not been paid since April last year. They further contended that their efforts to have their grievances redressed have fallen on deaf years as the authorities failed to given attention to it. The Commission also registered a case for inquiry u/s 12 (a) of the Protection of the Human Rights Act, 1993.