Jalpaiguri, Sept. 19: The reds have suddenly discovered the virtues of green.

The district CPM has withdrawn its support for Teesta-Agron Industries Pvt Ltd, a fertiliser manufacturing unit in the Majhiali gram panchayat area of Rajganj block that has recently become embroiled in a pollution controversy.

?We had stood in favour of the industry (when it began functioning) as setting up such a unit means direct and indirect employment for thousands of people. But if the land turns infertile due to pollution, we are going to stand by the farmers,? said Manik Sanyal, the district secretary of the CPM.

According to sources, 15 years ago, the CPM leadership of both Jalpaiguri and Darjeeling districts had been determined to launch the unit. NGOs like Jalpaiguri Science & Nature Club, Siliguri Welfare Organisation and Jalpaiguri Welfare Organisation had then objected to the decision and even convened public meetings near the site because the pollution control board (PCB) had listed the unit under the ?red category?, meaning it had the potential to pollute the environment.

But the CPM pulled all stops to ensure that the NGO effort was nullified.

Even the district administration was prompted to distribute leaflets, saying ?there is no fear of pollution from the unit?.

?How could they object to the unit which was owned by relations of ace CPM leaders?? asked Biswaranjan Sarkar, district Congress president of Jalpaiguri.

The company, then known as Sunderban Fertilisers Ltd, had three partners: Chandan Bose, son of then chief minister Jyoti Basu, Hardeb Singh, nephew of Harkishan Singh Surjeet, and Dilip Roychoudhury, a CPM leader and a relation of Basu.

At present, Singh is the sole owner of the unit, the name of which was later changed to Teesta-Agro Limited.