The pollution department’s ‘kindness’ is spewing poison from non-standard wells…sheet of black smoke, accidents on the roads and…

Black smoke, accidents on roads
Public’s respiratory problems, lung diseases

Hargaon-Sitapur. Hargaon area has now become a living victim of the negligence of the pollution department, where non-standard wells are being operated indiscriminately and have made life difficult for the common people. More than 100 Gudbels in Jharrekhapur situated on Lakhimpur-Sitapur road, while hundreds of these units on Hargaon-Maholi and Hargaon-Piprajhala road are spewing black smoke day and night.

These poisonous smoke have not only engulfed the surrounding villages, but have also started having a serious impact on the health of the passers-by and the local people. Eye irritation, cough, respiratory problems and lung related diseases are increasing rapidly. The situation is so bad that there is black smog on the roads even during the day, due to which accidents are happening every day. After the fog on Wednesday morning, the smoke emanating from the non-standard chimneys of Gudbelas made the situation even more frightening. CHC doctor Dr. Ravi Bhargava has also confirmed that this pollution is giving rise to serious diseases related to lungs and allergies.

Silent acceptance of illegal operations, rules and regulations are ignored
The most shocking thing is that the pollution department seems to be ‘kind’ to these poison-spewing cesspools and seems to be avoiding any concrete action. As a rule, before operating a Gudbel, it is necessary to take permission from the Pollution Department, which neither the Gudbel operators are following nor the department is paying any attention. This tacit acceptance of the pollution department raises serious questions, whereas the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act 1974 and the Air Pollution Prevention and Control Act 1981 have clear rules for the operation of Gudbel. Along with polluting the clean air, these wells are indiscriminately exploiting groundwater and also contaminating drinking water sources by directly pumping the polluted water into nearby pits without treatment. This laxity of the department clearly shows that no one wants to tighten the noose on these operators who are violating revenue and rules.

When Regional Pollution Officer Umesh Shukla was called to know his side in this regard, the call was not received due to which his side could not be known.