Prakash Raj backs anti-Baldota, anti-pollution protest in Koppal

Actor and social activist Prakash Raj on Thursday extended his support to the ongoing protest against the Baldota Group and industrial pollution in Koppal, saying he would return to the district on October 31 when the agitation completes one year.

Mr. Raj visited the protest venue on the City Municipal Council premises and addressed the protesters on the 329th day of their indefinite dharna.

The agitation is being organised with demands including removal of the polluting industries like Baldota plant, control of industrial pollution, prevention of industrial effluents and use of water from the Tungabhadra and reservation of water for irrigation in the command area. The protesters have also sought the removal of alleged encroachment of Basapura lake.

“The environmental issue here is a serious problem, and the people of Koppal are waging a major struggle to address it. I am taking this issue seriously and will study it further with my friends,” Mr. Raj said.

He said he had come to Koppal for another programme and felt that he had not been able to devote sufficient time to the local agitation. He said he was keen to return to Koppal on October 31, when the protest completes one year, and spend more time supporting the movement.

Mr. Raj questioned the rationale behind setting up industries with potentially high environmental costs in places such as Koppal. He said such investments were being promoted in several parts of the country and argued that the issue should not be viewed as a problem confined to Koppal.

He questioned governments at the Centre and in the States for encouraging investments despite concerns over their possible environmental impact.

“The benefits of such investments largely accrued to investors, while local communities were left to face the consequences in the form of pollution, health problems and environmental degradation,” he said.

Koppal District Bachao Andolana Samiti convenor and writer Allamaprabhu Bettadur, agitation leaders Mallikarjun B. Gonala, Manjunath G. Gondabal, D.M. Badiger, D.H. Poojar and others were present.