CG News: The dust emanating from crusher plants has become a serious crisis for rural and residential areas today. The fine dust generated during stone crushing spreads with the wind to homes, fields, and roads, directly impacting people’s health, the environment, and livelihoods. From respiratory illnesses to crop damage, the dust from crusher plants is affecting the daily lives of local residents. The crusher plants and limestone mines operating on the Khairagarh-Rajnandgaon road have created a severe environmental and human crisis in the region.
A thick layer of white dust has coated the roadside trees and plants. Crop yields in the fields are being affected. According to local villagers, the uncontrolled spread of dust is due to the absence of water sprinklers and safety enclosures at the crusher plants. Vehicles moving on the highway are also struggling with the white dust, leading to reduced visibility and an increased risk of accidents. The leaves of the trees appear not green, but covered with a white layer of lime.
The Fear of Blasting
The blasting that occurs 2-3 times a week in the mines poses the biggest threat to the villagers. Explosions, without prior notice or announcement, cause stone fragments to reach settlements. Mud houses have developed cracks, and the elderly are constantly in fear. Villagers report that they have to leave their homes and go far away during blasting, and several accidents have occurred.