Kasur leather industry makes life miserable for Ferozepur villagers

And the industry is growing. Over 200 tanneries operate in the town,as they have become a means of livelihood for most of Kasur’s residents.

While Pakistan is always crying hoarse over the water treaties (earlier this year,many members of Pakistan National Assembly expressed concern over the alleged violation of the Indus Water Treaty by India),the issue of Satluj’s pollution has never been taken up.

“I never allow my cattle to go near the water flowing into our territory from Pakistan as the water is usually black in colour and the odour is really bad,” said Pawandeep,a dairy owner in Ferozepur. “I started taking precautions a few years ago after the labour I had employed developed skin diseases after bathing in the river water,” he added.

Another farmer said the river water gets mixed with underground water “and we are told by doctors that it is the root cause of cancer”. He said he could not even sell his land as there were no takers.

Ferozepur Civil surgeon Dilip Kumar confirmed that following various complaints for the past almost a year,they conducted a special survey in villages adjoining the river,and that samples had been sent recently for testing. “We have designated special mobile teams to visit each village and see what best cure can be given to the people,in addition to warning them not to use the water directly from the river”,he stated.

When The Indian Express team visited Khirchewal village,an elderly resident Sarabjit Singh said,“Our government may be planning to increase its annual medical budget for the treatment of cancer,and install Reverse Osmosis systems for clean drinking water in villages,but it does not seem to be making adequate efforts to check the root cause of these diseases”.

“Punjab irrigation minister belongs to Ferozepur,but he has done nothing to solve our problem. Almost all families have some or the other disease”,he stated.

“Last month,many fish were found dead flowing on the water but no official ever visited the spot,” another resident said.

Irrigation Minister Janmeja Singh Sekhon said that Prime Minister Office had been apprised through an official letter almost 6 months back,but the Central government had failed either to provide a solution or to talk with Pakistan to solve the mess. “The water flowing to our side in certain villages in Eastern Canal and Gunk Canal is loaded with harmful chemicals. We are helpless in checking its flow into our rivers,” Sekhon said.

Ferozepur Deputy Commissioner Kamal Kishore Yadav said he had prepared a detailed report in this regard and had sent a copy to the state government. “I had deputed my staff and the report was sent almost a month back about the problems faced by the villagers due to the increasing pollution level”,he stated.

Agreement still being followed?
A senior irrigation department officer confirmed that in 1996,the Pakistan government signed an agreement with the United Nations Development Programme and the UN Industrial Development Organization to launch the Kasur Tannery Pollution Control Project. The project,based in a large building set amid tannery clusters,has an effluent treatment plant,chromium plant and solid waste disposal site. “We do not know if it is working presently but it did check the pollution level when it was launched”,he said.

Growing menace
An increase in the global demand for leather from Pakistan,in part because of strict regulations in Europe and the Far East,has led to more and more tanneries opening up in Kasur and other Pakistani towns,thus increasing pollution level in India.