look news india
Nawada, 27 July (HS). The Warisliganj bandh organised on Saturday against the setting up of a cement factory by the Adani Group in Warisliganj of Nawada district in Bihar had a wide impact. Shops remained closed as usual. Tight security arrangements were made by the district administration to ensure that the bandh was organised peacefully. Police forces were deployed under the leadership of magistrate at 12 places.
No kind of coercion was used during the bandh. Very few people came out on the streets in support of the bandh. However, the local people supported it and the shops were kept closed. The bandh was called under the banner of Kisan Sangharsh Samiti. A dozen people under the leadership of President Ganesh Singh, General Secretary Ram Padarath Singh, Secretary Dron Prasad visited the market and appealed for cooperation and support to the bandh. Most of the shopkeepers of Patel Chowk, Gumti Road, Jai Prakash Chowk, Andar Bazar were seen voluntarily closing their establishments and supporting the bandh. CPI workers staged a dharna in the Warisliganj block office premises for various demands including setting up an agriculture-based factory in place of the cement factory.
It is noteworthy that the land of the closed sugar mill of Warisliganj was earlier handed over to Viada. Viada has allotted the land to Adani Group for setting up a cement factory. Adani Group is setting up Ambuja Cement plant here. It is being said that Adani Group will invest about Rs 1400 crore here. The foundation stone is to be laid on 29th July. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is going to arrive here. Preparations for this are going on in full swing. But, a large group of local people is not happy with the establishment of the cement factory.
Two reasons for the protest are being cited prominently. First, the people protesting believe that the area of Warisliganj is agriculture-based. A sugar mill should have been set up on the land of the sugar mill. If setting up a sugar mill was not possible, then an agriculture-based industry should have been set up. This would have benefited the local farmers. The second reason for the protest is said to be health problems. People believe that the cement plant will have an adverse effect on health. However, people holding a different opinion than the protesters say that the cement plant will create employment. The economy of the area will improve. How much impact the protest and market closure have on the state government and the Adani Group will be clear in the coming days. At present, preparations are being made for the foundation stone laying ceremony. The information that is coming out is that Chief Minister Nitish Kumar will attend the foundation stone laying ceremony. Along with this, Adani Group chief Gautam Adani is also coming.
Two helipads are being constructed in the Viyada campus. CM Nitish Kumar's helicopter will land on one helipad and Gautam Adani's helicopter will land on the other.
The factory management is busy day and night in preparations for the arrival of the Chief Minister. A big grand pandal is being built. To ensure that there is no lapse in the security of the CM, IG of Magadh region Kshatranil Singh, DM Ashutosh Kumar Verma and SP Ambrish Rahul along with other district officials have inspected the venue. The officials from Patna to the district are continuing to arrive. Meanwhile, Warisriganj was closed in protest against setting up of the cement factory, which dampened the enthusiasm. It is possible that there may be a ruckus in Nitish's meeting as well, given the circumstances that are arising in Warisliganj.