Cement village; people 700 leaders 900

Entry no. 69

Synopsis: Himal cement factory, with a manufacturing capacity of upto 160 metric tones, 250 people were employed at the beginning. The factory was operating well till 1995/96. But due to the heavy political interference the factor became an appointment centre for political parties. With lack of proper maintenance of machines and management the pollution rate caused by the factory grows up. Locals of Chhobar first organised protests against pollution. With the course of time, various organisations working in the field of environmental welfare come forward to back the locals. On 1999, the then government, citing extensive pollution caused by the factory, came up with a decision to close it down, to relocate it to other location outside the capital and to give compulsory retirement to all the employees. Chhobar areas have witnessed a sea-change in business activities as the area which used to remain busy providing service to trucks, now wear a deserted look. With the closure of the factory, many shops have vanished. Some of them are giving continuity to the business hoping for a better prospect in coming days.