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Toxic pollutants drained into Basantar, PCB assumes criminal silence Pesticide units flouting norms 8/22/2016 10:51:56 PM Neeraj Badyal Early Times Report SAMBA, Aug 22: The pesticide units in Samba are openly flouting norms with impunity as highly toxic pollutants are being discharged into River Basantar directly, while the Pollution Control Board which is nodal agency to ensure implementation of environment norms has turned a blind eye to the dangerous violation for reasons best known to them. "River Basantar, once called lifeline of Samba is dying fast because of constant flow of toxic waste coming from the industries without any check" said Sudhir Dewan, a local. People of village Tanda, that falls in the vicinity of these industrial units rue that the water of this river is being used traditionally for agricultural and domestic use, confronting people with grave health problems. "The soil is growing infertile rapidly and animals are dying due to constant intake of the polluted water. The elderly and young children are more prone to these ailments. Eight buffaloes were also killed some time back after they drank polluted water discharged from pesticide industries. People said there are no pipes and the water flows into open drains. The polluted water falls directly into river Basantar. There is no provision to treat this water before flowing into the river. Several time PCB collected samples and sent same for laboratory tests, but no action was taken against these industries. "Since the Pesticide units are set up in SIDCO phase I the agriculture land of the village Tanda is totally damaged due to polluted water. Several times people raised the issue before district administration and State government , but to no avail" said, Rahul Sambyal, a local. The Pesticide units in Phase 1 and Phase II do not follow the laid norms and discharge untreated pollutant waste into water bodies. Some industrial units have set up a Effluent Treatment Plant (ETP) but these are mere eye wash and seldom function.   Share This News with Your Friends on Social Network     Comment on this Story

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