Ahmedabad:
It is known as Gujarat Golden Corridor where for over a decade the area has seen phenomenal industrial growth. But along with it unseen environmental problems make an appearance.
Millions of litres of untreated effluents are being pumped out into the Arabian Sea. Parsis, for whom their heritage is at stake have taken the matter to court which recently ordered 39 industries to shut down.
Ten million litres of highly toxic untreated chemical effluents are being dumped into the sea from the Sarigam Industrial Estate off the coast of Sanjan in South Gujarat. This is the grim reality of environmental pollution behind the impressive industrial growth in Gujarat's Golden Corridor.
The crisis, now a legal battle has already taken a huge toll.
Jitendra Halpati, a farmer, says, "We grow rice. But during the monsoon the chemical gets mixed with the water the rice doesn't grow as much."
"We just can't get any fish any more here. The chemicals are so strong, they just die.", adds Sushilaben, a fisherwoman.
The worst offenders, locals claim are the companies that produce fungicides, herbicides and pesticides. Many of them are banned in the West as constant exposure can lead to cancer.
This is what happened a few days ago when matters went out of hand. Angry and fed up villagers set on fire these plastic pipes that were to carry the effluent and spew it out into the sea. Their provocation, they claim: an insensitive administration that has for years ignored this deadly problem.
At the forefront of the legal battle is the Parsi community that made Sanjan its home after fleeing Iran 1,300 years ago. It's heritage now at stake.
Members of the community moved the Gujarat High Court, which recently directed 39 industries in Sarigam to shut down at least temporarily.
Jamshed Banaji, Petitioner says, "Officials of the state's industrial development corporation and the pollution control board of turning a blind eye." Allegations that state officials have denied.
So, as Gujarat's Poison Pipeline continues to spit venom its citizens ask a simple question.
"Till now only animals have died as they don't know the difference between chemicals and water. Is the government waiting for us to die also?", says Jitendra Halpati.
Millions of litres of untreated effluents are being pumped out into the Arabian Sea. Parsis, for whom their heritage is at stake have taken the matter to court which recently ordered 39 industries to shut down.
Ten million litres of highly toxic untreated chemical effluents are being dumped into the sea from the Sarigam Industrial Estate off the coast of Sanjan in South Gujarat. This is the grim reality of environmental pollution behind the impressive industrial growth in Gujarat's Golden Corridor.
The crisis, now a legal battle has already taken a huge toll.
Jitendra Halpati, a farmer, says, "We grow rice. But during the monsoon the chemical gets mixed with the water the rice doesn't grow as much."
"We just can't get any fish any more here. The chemicals are so strong, they just die.", adds Sushilaben, a fisherwoman.
The worst offenders, locals claim are the companies that produce fungicides, herbicides and pesticides. Many of them are banned in the West as constant exposure can lead to cancer.
This is what happened a few days ago when matters went out of hand. Angry and fed up villagers set on fire these plastic pipes that were to carry the effluent and spew it out into the sea. Their provocation, they claim: an insensitive administration that has for years ignored this deadly problem.
At the forefront of the legal battle is the Parsi community that made Sanjan its home after fleeing Iran 1,300 years ago. It's heritage now at stake.
Members of the community moved the Gujarat High Court, which recently directed 39 industries in Sarigam to shut down at least temporarily.
Jamshed Banaji, Petitioner says, "Officials of the state's industrial development corporation and the pollution control board of turning a blind eye." Allegations that state officials have denied.
So, as Gujarat's Poison Pipeline continues to spit venom its citizens ask a simple question.
"Till now only animals have died as they don't know the difference between chemicals and water. Is the government waiting for us to die also?", says Jitendra Halpati.
