In a memorandum submitted to the Chief Engineer of the Board, its district general secretary, V.Subramanian, said that emission from the factory caused irritation to eyes while effluent discharge affected the flora and fauna in and around the town and posed health hazard to the residents.

The memorandum urged the Board to inspect the factory immediately and ensure proper treatment of effluents before discharge.

The Joint Action Council of All Trade Unions of the Arasu Cement Factory has urged the management to sanction festival bonus to the employees from this year. In a memorandum to the Chief Minister, its office-bearers said that although the factory was earning profit for the past four years, it was yet to announce Deepavali bonus.

Although the management had agreed in principle to reimburse medical expenses to the employees and their dependants, and other retirement benefits, the assurances were yet to be implemented.

Vacant posts should be filled by recruiting either the legal heirs of retired employees or members of those families whose land was acquired for expansion of the factory. These posts should not be filled by transfer of employees from the Tamil Nadu Cement Corporation.

The employees urged the management not to recover the festival advance of Rs.2,000 from the salary and wanted a credit of earned leave up to 240 days.

The council announced a four-pronged agitation in support of these demands. The employees took out a procession on Wednesday pressing these demands. They have planned to observe a fast stir on December 3