The local people in the villages in the vicinity of the Asian Paints plant to be built at Pudi village in Visakhapatnam district have demanded more jobs at a public hearing held on Wednesday by the AP Pollution Control Board.

Asian Paints is proposing to set up the plant in 113.5 acres allocated by the AP Industrial Infrastructure Corporation (APIIC) at Pudi village in Viskhapatnam district at a total cost of Rs 1,785 crores to produce paints, resins and water-based polymers.

The capacity of the proposed plant is 5 lakh KL per annum.

A spokesman of the company explained at the outset that green belt would be developed over 33 per cent of the land allotted for the plant. The company would also install a solar power plant for captive consumption with a capacity of 4 MW. Water required for the plant - 1600 KLD - would be provided by the APIIC.

A most modern effluent treatment plant would be set up and there would be zero liquid discharge. A comprehensive plan had been prepared for the solid and hazardous waste management, the spokesman added.

Asians Paints promised to spend Rs 10 crores over the next five years on corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities in the nearby villages. The plant would generate employment of 700.

Most of the speakers from the nearby villages, especially Pudi and Pudimadaka villages, complained that locals were not being given jobs by the companies, citing some excuse or the other, and the local people were gaining nothing and suffering all the problems including pollution.

The Visakhapatnam district collector, N. Yuvaraj, presided over the public hearing.

sarma.rs@thehindu.co.in

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