Canal turns into a death pool

For some, a fish flipping out of a lake due to lack of oxygen would be a rare sight but for the villagers of Godavi, near Sanand, this is a common sight.

For some, a fish flipping out of a lake due to lack of oxygen would be a rare sight but for the villagers of Godavi, near Sanand, this is a common sight. The Gota-Godavi canal near the village, built to clear excess rainwater has become an effluent outlet for various factories based in the city. The water has caused the death of about 5,000 fish in the canal and 11 buffaloes which drank the water in the last one week. Villagers, however, say that such deaths have occurred in the past too, but the Government has remained unmindful of the same.

Divyakant Waghela, a resident of Godhavi, says that villagers cannot even take a bath in the canal without feeling a burning sensation. He said, 8220;The water here has been polluted by the waste thrown out from factories. It is black and acidic and cannot be used.8221;

Tejendra Waghela, another villager, said, 8220;A large number of fish have been dying since the last one week because of the polluted water. We removed the dead fish as we could not tolerate the stench. Even the carcasses of buffaloes had to be cleared by us.8221;

The villagers warn of other dangers. Hitendrasinh Waghela said, 8220;There are two bore wells near the canal, but we fear that the water might cause health problems as these wells draw water from this canal.8221;

Deputy Sarpanch of the Godavi Panchayat, Ranjithsinh Vaghela has also lost a buffalo. Vaghela said 8220;This is the first time that such a large quantity of fish have died because of the polluted water. We have, however, sent letters to the state health department, Gujarat Pollution Control Board, District Collector, Department of Animal Husbandry and other departments concerned to do something about this.8221;

The letters sent by the Gram Panchayat also cite the possibility of an outbreak of diseases. To top it all, the identity of the factory causing the pollution is yet to be known.