1 FIGHT AGAINST POLLUTION OF TUNGABHADRA
From its inception, SPS has been involved in the fight against pollution of Tungabhadra river water and air in the region. Since 1972, with the Birlas opening the Harihar Polyfibres, at Kumarapattnam, near Harihar town, there has been surmounting accumulation of polluted waters of Tungabhadra, air and soil in the surroundings. Due to this, there were large-scale fish kills, increasing instance of peculiar diseases to human beings, cattle and sheep, and degradation of land on the banks of the river. SPS facilitated formation of Village Parisar Samitis and ‘Tungabhadra Parisara Samiti (TPS) in the region. These Samitis plunged into actions by writing letters to Government officers, organizing protest marches, organizing environmental awareness jathas and so on. SPS helped these Samitis by organizing environmental camps, providing resource persons and undertaking training in Non Violent Direct Action (NVDA). Most notable Satyagrahas were held on June 05, 1984, October 02, 1984, December 7-10, 1993 and a major Satyagraha was successfully conducted during 7-10 December 1993 when over 100 Satyagrahis chained themselves to the door of the KSPCB office and prevented it from functioning; On the 5 th day of this unique Satyagraha, the Govt. removed the corrupt Chairman of KSPCB. More recently on April 22,2008, October 02,2008 and June 05,2009 against the plans for capacity expansion (over 70%) of production by the Grasiline Division of Grasim industries. These collective efforts in the 1980s and 1990s brought success including compelling the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board(KSPCB) to file criminal and civil cases against Harihar Polyfibres Divisions (part of GRASIM industries) in the JMFC Court, Ranebennur, for the first time in the history of industrial Karnataka and formation of local watchdog committee headed by former SPS President. SPS also facilitated fishermen to file cases with financial help from State Legal Aid Board in the JMFC Ranebennur, against Harihar Polyfibres for depriving them of their livelihood.
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