July 1: Women from Trinayan Nagar, Krishnapur, Milanpur and Nirupama Apartment today staged a dharna demanding removal of a coal depot and garages from their residential areas.

Armed with placards, the women organised the protest under the banner of Trinayan Nagar Unnayan Xamiti, Nirupama Enclave Society, Krishnapur Mahila Society and Trinayan Mahila Xamiti, Trinayan Nagar, for nearly five hours from 9.30am.

The protesters said a coal depot had been set up on a private plot of land around seven years back in the area and eight garages-cum-repairing centres for heavy vehicles came up within the past few years leading to constant noise and air pollution.

The protesters demanded removal of the coal depot and the garages. The latest garage was set up last month.

Gitali Choudhury, president of Trinayan Mahila Xamiti, said the coal depot and the heavy vehicles pose health hazards to the residents of the area. She said children and other residents of the area suffer from lung and skin diseases because of the coal depot and the smoke released by heavy diesel vehicles.

Choudhury said they had approached the GMC two months back demanding the removal of the coal depot from the area.

“GMC officials promised us to take prompt actions to remove the coal depot from the area when we approached them two months back, but no action has been taken so far,” she said. She added they had also approached the GMC demanding removal of the garages from the area.

The protesters said constant plying of heavy vehicles has damaged roads and drains. They said continuous noise from the heavy vehicles has affected study of the children.

According to the protesters, the GMC can remove the garages which have been set up in residential areas.