Muzaffarpur, Feb. 10: Chief minister Nitish Kumar’s denial of any concession from the state to the proposed asbestos factory in Marwan village in the district has prompted calls for clarification on the no-objection certificate (NOC) issued by the authorities earlier.

Convener of Ban Asbestos Network of India (Bani) Gopal Krishna told The Telegraph that the chief minister is playing a “hide-and-seek game” over the asbestos factory. Krishna demanded that the state government come out with a white paper on the reasons which led to the issuance of the NOC and also the reasons that have pushed the state to deny concessions for the proposed project.

“The authorities first overlooked the health hazard for the people of Marwan and Kanti blocks (the proposed site falls between the two blocks) by giving the necessary permission. Now when the agitation against the project by activists of Socialist Unity Centre of India (SUCI) and Khet Bachao, Jiwan Bachao Sangharsh Morcha has reached boiling point, the government is trying to save its skin,” he said.

District secretary to SUCI Arjun Prasad demanded an explanation from the State Investment and Promotion Board (SIPB) over the circumstances under which it granted the permission without obtaining the nod from the state cabinet and the chief minister.

On the other hand, the SUCI activists are demanding stringent action against the State Pollution Control Board (SPCB) for giving the NOC to the project without ascertaining the health hazard it will cause to the people residing into the vicinity of the factory.

Senior superintendent of police Sunil Kumar said that the district police have clamped section 144 of the Indian penal code (restricting public meetings) in the surroundings of the factory site.