Meerut kids scald feet in sugar mill’s ash dumps

If you thought stepping on hot coals was done to propitiate gods in South India, think again. For children in Meerut’s Mawana, playing ...

If you thought stepping on hot coals was done to propitiate gods in South India, think again. For children in Meerut’s Mawana, playing in the fields involves stepping on hot ash, courtesy a local sugar mill that has been liberally dumping its boilers’ contents there.

As a result, over 10 children and adults are hobbling on scalded feet or are lying in bed waiting for the wounds on their heels to cure. Among the worst cases, two-and-a-half-year-old Mukesh has virtually been handicapped, claims his grandfather Gangaram. The toddler had strayed into the fields to play and burnt his feet. The list of children hurt by the hot ash include Deepa (6), Neetu (14), Mohit (7), Amit aka Bunty (7) and Arun (8), apart from Vinod (25).

Residents have submitted a memorandum to the area Sub-Divisional Magistrate and have filed police complaints. Nahar Singh’s family filed an FIR which names mill general manager A.K. Agarwal, cane manager Karan Singh, deputy manager Rajeev Misra, security officer Joy Mukherjee and three contractors.

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They have accused the mill of causing hurt to residents through their negligence. Two other families of injured people have followed suit.

No arrests had been made till the time this report was filed as mill officials are said to have gone to Delhi. Though area MLA Prabhu Dayal Valmiki had asked district authorities to act in the matter, the issue is snowballing. Local RJD leader Yusuf Qureshi has threatened to gherao the tehsil office if no action is taken.

Residents have long been complaining about the ash and bagasse being dumped. In view of the mounting unrest, the mill management has blamed contractors for dumping ash. The matter is being taken up with them, say mill officials. Meanwhile, they claim to have layering mud over the ash and sprinkling water on it.

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