The Jai Shri Baryogi Joint Action Committee, apex body of various local organisations opposing the cement plant being set up in the Karsog area by the multinational Lafarge company, has urged the government to review the decision in view of its adverse environmental fallout on ecologically sensitive area having a wildlife sanctuary in close vicinity. The committee, which met under the chairmanship of its president Ganga Singh Thakur here today, accused the government and the local administration of siding with the company and maintained that notices issued under Section 4 of the Land Acquisition Act to landowners and for the acquisition of the ancient Baryogi temple were illegal. Demanding immediate withdrawal of the notices, it alleged that the company had initiated work on the project without obtaining the mandatory permission from the concerned central ministry. Drilling was carried out at 42 places as part of investigations from June, 2007, and April, 2009, whereas permission was granted to the company only in May, 2009. Instead of taking action against the company for violating the law, the government agencies were helping it in various ways, causing widespread resentment among the people, he said. The company had abandoned the site of limestone deposits, identified by the geological department, and shifted to Talhain village on its own. He demanded action not only against the company, but also against the divisional forest officer. Ganga Singh pointed out that the project was awarded on the basis of a survey carried out almost three decades ago and the ground realities had completely changed since. Many forest areas and even wildlife sanctuary were not shown in the maps. The Majathal sanctuary was only 8 km away and, as such, a cement plant could not be allowed to come up in the area. More so, because it was the natural habitat for highly endangered vultures, he added.