Hundreds of villagers of Ekgharia on Saturday staged a demonstration in front of the regional office of the State Pollution Control Board (SPCB) here against the polluting sponge unit Inter-continental Tar Refineries (ITR) near their village. The villagers said the poisonous gas emitted from the plant was affecting the health of the villagers badly. The effluents from the plant also pollute the water of river Brahmani. The villagers alleged that the SPCB has not taken any step even as the plant authorities continue to violate all norms of water and air pollution. They also threatened to intensify their agitation if the SPCB fails to close down the plant. The villagers were led by village president GC Debta and secretary CR Nanda. The Regional Officer of the Board here said he had received the memorandum from the villagers and he would look into their demands.