Company booked for chemical dump in Bangalore

Bangalore: It is now known who dumped toxic pharma waste in Bangalore's railway backyard late on Sunday that posed a huge risk to hundreds of people nearby. But the issue is not just of one foul-smelling pharma chemical, but of the larger world of irresponsible waste disposal.

A mysterious chemical appeared quietly and anonymously on their doorstep on Sunday evening, but there was nothing quiet about the stink.

It was only on Thursday that the pollution control board finally managed to trace the alleged culprits -- the Karnataka Chemsyn Ltd -- a bulk-drugs manufacturer. The company has been served a notice.

Commenting on the incident Karnataka Pollution Control Board Chairman said, "The most hazardous in this is the Bromide compounds, more than Thallium Chloride, which causes bit of breathing problem.

The Karnataka Pollution Control Board has now ordered the company to shut under the Environment (Protection) Act.

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But for Muniyamma and her neighbour in Srirampura, the problem is far from over.

Resident of Srirampura, Muniyamma says, "That night, all of us were wondering what happened. Our throat and eyes were burning, no matter how much water we drank, it did not help. Children were vomiting. Even now, that smell is there."

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There are over 140 industries across Karnataka classified as 'polluting'. Many of these industries dump their waste on the sly. With pollution laws not being enforced strictly, they get away with it.

This company has been booked, but what about others who continue to let out toxic effluents? Climate change talks failed in faraway Copenhagen and here what hope of a better world do these children have when local companies assert their right to pollute?

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