On Friday, residents of Sonepur district's Langalkata village protested the construction of a rice mill next to their community by staging a 12-hour road blockade on National Highway 126, which connects Dunguripali, Rampur, Binika, and Sonepur."Once the mill starts operating, we are going to face several problems," a nearby resident stated. It will have an impact on local farmlands and people's health. More people might wind up with illnesses instead of getting care because the hospital is so close. The safety of our women will probably be threatened by the large number of outside visitors that the rice mill will draw.

Authorities Have Not Reacted to Complaints
According to reports, the villagers urged the government to suspend the project in a memorandum they sent to the Sonepur District Collector on October 15. According to their claims, they also brought up the matter with representatives of the State Pollution Control Board (SPCB) and other authorities. 

Another resident stated, "We have discussed our concerns with SPCB officials and met with the Collector, but nothing has been done as of yet."

Notice of Increasing Protest
The locals claimed they were forced to move their protest on the main road since their demands were not being met. A villager threatened to escalate the demonstration and prolong the blockade indefinitely if their concerns were not addressed.

The locals' concerns over the rice mill project have not yet received a public response from the local government.