The industrial waste and effluents discharged by various industries in Greater Noida is causing havoc by polluting groundwater of the adjoining villages. The authorities have not done a little on the villagers’ complaints in this regard. They are forced to drink contaminated water.
The dumping of industrial waste by manufacturing units is posing a serious health hazard to residents and is also adding to groundwater pollution. Several residents of the affected villages claimed that chemical and other industries are dumping toxic waste without treating them which results into polluted water. The villagers claims that the water they drink is highly polluted, causing several life-threatening diseases.
According to pollution norms, industries should dump used oils and toxic substances only after detoxing them. Besides, industrial waste should not be dumped in the open. People are falling ill frequently due to toxic groundwater. “Few residents of the villages have died of cancer in our village. We think that highly polluted water is the main reason behind the rise in number of cancer patients,” said Naresh Singh, a resident of Acchesa village. Villages such as Acchesa, Kheda Dhrampura, Bil Akbarpur, Sadopur and Bisnoli are among the worst sufferers.
Residents of other villages have echoed similar views and claims that the Gautam Budh Nagar district pollution control board did not address to their several complaints. “We have written to the Central and State-level authorities on this issue because local authorities did not pay heed to their repeated complaints. We are not getting clean water to drink,” Singh said.
Dr Gagan Saini, senior oncologist, Fortis Hospital, Noida said, “The regular use of polluted groundwater may cause cancer. Heavy metals and pesticides induce nutrition that causes the deadly disease.”
However, local authorities disagree with residents. A senior official of district pollution control board said, “We had inspected several industries units earlier. Most of them have required sewage treatment plant (STP) and air pollution control system in place. They dump their waste after proper treatment.”
To achieve the status of being a zero discharge city, the Noida Jal Nigam has proposed to install new sewage treatment plants (STP) with upgraded technology in Gautam Buddh Nagar district. “If any company is dumping their waste unscientifically, we will look into it. We will inspect industrial units and take appropriate action if any unit is found flouting norms,” the official said
