Residents of cement belt bear brunt of dusty roads
Ambika Sharma
Tribune News Service
Solan,December 3
Despite the availability of crores of rupees of funds with the District Mineral Foundation Trust, people residing in the Darlaghat cement belt are bearing the brunt of dusty roads in the absence of timely repair and maintenance.
The fund, which was constituted in June 2017, was aimed at mitigating the woes of people affected by mining activities. The Trust is headed by the Deputy Commissioner, Solan. At least Rs 90 crore has been collected under the fund since its inception.
“Initially, the fund was supposed to be utilised for various development works within a 3-km area from a cement plant. The distance was enhanced to 15 km in October,” said District Mining Officer Kulbhushan.
He said 37 works worth Rs 20 crore had been approved under the fund. These included several link roads in the Arki area and works such as improving black spots on the Karaghat-Kashlog road. However, not even a penny had been spent so far.
In case of minor minerals, 10 per cent of the royalty, which is paid to the state government by the user of these minerals, is contributed to the Trust. In case of major mineral users such as cement plants, 30 per cent of the royalty is charged on the mining lease.
Residents residing along the roads are the worst affected as vehicular movement continues day and night. “Locals, who run dhabas, petrol pumps and other shops along the road, face worst air pollution from the plumes of dust that fly each time a vehicle crosses a dilapidated portion of the road,” rued Pawan, a local resident.
The locals have demanded a health survey to gauge the extent of health issues being faced by them several times. Hundreds of cement-laden trucks from the manufacturing plants of Ambuja Cements Limited and Ultratech Cement ply on these roads on a daily basis, causing massive wear and tear.
The PWD, which is supposed to maintain these roads, is facing a shortage of funds. The Bagha-Darla Mor-Piplughat-Kunihar, Darlaghat-Piplughat and Shimla-Darlaghat-Bilaspur roads are among the worst affected, as hundreds of multi-axle vehicles carrying tonnes of cement use these routes everyday.
