The local administration has shut down 3 chemical factories in Meghnagar, Jhabua, but locals allege that there are seven more in the area that are still dumping chemical waste illegally
More than 100 villagers in western Madhya Pradesh indulged in stone pelting and violence in the industrial area of Jhabua district last week, alleging that chemical factories are flouting pollution norms. The administration has arrested one person on Sunday, and shut down three factories.
After the protests on August 3, NDTV visited one of the plots belonging to the Kasta Bhanjan Chemical factory in Meghnagar area. The chemical waste allegedly dumped illegally by the factories could be seen seeping out of the land and flowing into a nearby pond.
According to local villagers, the factories have been dumping their waste in the area for the past six months. They claim that factory officials had dumped a heap of stones to cover the dumped waste after protests broke out.
The president of the local industry association has denied the charge, Prafulla Jain said, "Protests were politically motivated. We have also asked administration to check if industries are illegally dumping chemical waste... there is a need of a common effluent treatment plant here and we are trying for it.
But locals allege that there are seven more chemical factories in the area that are still dumping chemical waste illegally. One of the five affected villages is Amlipathar, where locals claim the groundwater has been contaminated.
Bijli Rathore says," I am from Amlipathar village, after consuming water I have developed sores in my mouth and am experiencing burning sensation in my stomach."
On August 9, the police arrested Gopal Gujarati for instigating the crowd, while the administration has sent soil and water samples for testing. It has even sprayed hydrogen peroxide to neutralise the chemical waste in the pond.
A senior local official, NS Balodiya, told NDTV," We have temporarily shut 3 factories. Other chemical factories have not been given clean chit we are waiting for the report and accordingly take action."
The officials are waiting for the pollution control board's report before taking any further action against the remaining chemical factories.