The establishment of an Adani-Ambuja cement factory just 500 meters from Ramannapet near Musi river in Yadadri Bhongir district has stirred anger among local residents. The villagers are raising concerns about the proximity of the factory to their homes, citing the safety record of the company, which operates 17 plants across the country.
The villagers have staged demonstrations, opposing the factory’s construction, and blocked the referendum scheduled for its approval. Waving placards and black flags, protesters also clashed with police, resisting arrests. Environmentalists who arrived from other areas to support the project were chased away by locals, who warned they would not compromise their safety and health for industrial development.
The history of accidents at Ambuja’s facilities has caused skepticism about the company’s safety standards, leading to fears for workers and the local population alike. Recent statistics from the International Labour Organization highlight the potential health hazards and environmental damage caused by cement factories.
Just last July, four workers were killed, and over 20 were injured in accidents at two separate cement factories in Jaggayyapet, Andhra Pradesh. Similar incidents have occurred elsewhere, with three workers losing their lives in an accident at a cement factory in Chhattisgarh and another three killed in Gujarat in 2022.
Protests against the establishment of cement plants are not new. In various states, villagers have strongly opposed the setting up of factories near their communities. Earlier this month, residents of Wahiajer in Meghalaya launched a movement against the construction of a cement plant in their area. Similarly, large-scale protests erupted last July against the Taj Cement Factory in Assam.
Environmental experts are raising red flags over the potential impact of the Ambuja cement factory on the Musi River. While a report states that the factory is to be set up 7.8 kilometers north of the Musi River’s high flood level (HFL), experts argue that the site falls within the river’s catchment area.
They warn that rainwater runoff from the factory could eventually flow into the Musi River and, from there, into the Krishna River. Despite the distance from the river, environmentalists caution that the long-term impact on the water system cannot be ignored.
The Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) party has also taken a firm stance against the factory. The party has vowed to block the project and has seen its public representatives arrested in various locations as a result of their opposition.