Protests intesify against Dow Chemicals

The protests against the upcoming research and development (R&D) centre of Dow Chemicals near Pune intensified on Friday after Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar supported the Dow project. The protestors observed a strict 'bandh' in the towns of Alandi and Dehu, around 30 kilometres north of Pune as political parties like Shiv Sena and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) joined them.

Members of the Warkari community, the followers of saint Tukaram and saint Dnayneshwar, are leading these protests since January this year stating that the company's operations would lead to severe enviromental crisis and pollution within the Dehu-Alandi belt known for its religious importance. The community, which has few millions of supporters and hence, is considered to be politically crucial as well as "sacred" in Maharashtra. The community members on Friday re-asserted that they would not allow Dow Chemicals to set up any project in Maharashtra.

Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar on Thursday criticised the Warkari community for getting voilent over the 'Dow' issue and expressed his support to the Dow R&D project. "Dow is setting up only an R&D centre in Dehu. The company has given a written statement to the Pune district collector saying, it will not conduct is production activity at this site. Therefore, this project will not lead to any pollution and hence, we should not oppose this project," Pawar had stated on Thursday.

Reacting to Pawar's statement, the Warkari community leaders on Friday staged protests in Dehu and Alandi towns and observed a strict 'bandh'. "Dow Chemicals has been driven out by more than 54 countries and we have proofs to support this claim. This company is known for unauthorised and corrupt practices and hence, we will not allow the company to have any establishment in Maharashtra," Warkari leaders told reporters on Friday.

The protestors came down heavily on Pawar's statement and said, they were ready to hold talks with the minister in this regard. "We are open for discussions and Pawar can call us anytime to understand our view," Vilas Sonawane, who heads the Lok Shasan movement initiated to oppose this project, told reporters.

Dow Chemicals is an American firm involved in chemical, plastic and agriculture business. The company's wholly owned subsidiary Union Carbide was reposible for the 1984-Bhopal gas trgedy. The company is setting up its R&D centre in Dehu, which has been cleared by Bombay High Court.