Groundwater turns black, stinky; Ludhiana villagers say ‘we don’t want to die of cancer’

On Sunday, the residents of Mangat, a village with a population of at least 15,000, gathered to raise their voice against the dyeing unit allegedly polluting the groundwater. They protested holding placards with slogans such as “Assi cancer naal marna nahi chahunde” (We don’t want to die of cancer) and “Saade pind da paani peen yog nahi reha” (Our water is no more fit for drinking). However, they are doubtful if any action would be initiated against the dyeing factory which is operating in the vicinity for more than a decade and allegedly discharging untreated polluted water in the open and into the ground.

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Ludhiana-based Kuldeep Singh Khaira, one of the members of Public Action Committee (PAC), said that they have filed a complaint with the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Punjab chief secretary, and Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) stating that the illegal dumping of industrial effluents into the ground via reverse boring has polluted the groundwater of Mangat beyond repair and villagers are being forced to consume the same. They are also being forced to irrigate the fields with the same water, he added.

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“The unit is also dumping fly ash in the village pond which is even more hazardous. We have demanded that water samples (including groundwater and pond water) be collected for testing and an FIR be registered against those guilty of polluting village’s natural resources,” said Khaira.

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“The two tube wells installed in Mangat is discharging polluted water which is black and stinks as well. However, despite various complaints by the affected local residents, the PPCB has not initiated any action till date,” states the complaint submitted to CPCB and Punjab chief secretary. “It is clear that some dyeing industry is discharging its effluents directly into the groundwater which is illegal…. The groundwater table is being polluted by industries in Ludhiana, but PPCB has failed to discharge its duty,” it further states.

Jagdeep Singh, a villager from Mangat, said, “Earlier the issue wasn’t this grave, or maybe we were not aware enough. But now the water quality has deteriorated to such a level that no one can even stand near the water for a minute. It is black, frothy and stinks. It is almost like gutter water,” he says.

On Sunday, the residents of Mangat, a village with a population of at least 15,000, gathered to raise their voice against the dyeing unit allegedly polluting the groundwater. (Express Photo)

Another villager Gurpreet Singh Mangat said that initially, villagers were happy that youths were getting employment due to the dyeing unit.

“But later we realised that untreated waste from the unit has started polluting the water we drink. They are also releasing untreated waste in the open which is also polluting the village pond. The situation has got worse now as water coming out is completely black and stinking. Because of the polluted water several people from the village have succumbed to cancer in the past 10 years, while many are suffering from skin diseases, kidney failure and other ailments. The unit has not even installed a proper waste treatment plant which is a must as per norms, and whenever we try to raise the matter, nothing is done about it. We had filed several Right to Information (RTI) applications, but never got a reply from the administration,” he said.

Speaking to The Indian Express, Bhisham Sohal, sub-divisional officer (SDO), PPCB, said that a team from the board will be visiting the village for inspection of water on Tuesday.