Shahabad-Markanda: Residents of Yara and Yari villages in Shahabad constituency of Kurukshetra district alleged that a factory manufacturing alloys was releasing effluents and polluting their villages, affecting about 15 to 20 panchayats. They alleged that many residents of the villages were suffering from cancer and skin diseases while groundwater in the area, which was in the dark zone, was polluted.
Sources said some residents of Yara and Yari villages also protested outside a unit of Stalwart Alloys India Private Limited at Yari village over release of effluents on Friday. Their protest is being supported by Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU) Haryana (Charuni) workers.
In their protest, villagers demanded that the administration collect samples of effluents being released from the factory and groundwater in the village to check pollution level. They also demanded that the administration seal the unit.
Yari village sarpanch Manjeet Kaur said, “Our village is in a dark zone and the factory is polluting groundwater by releasing chemical effluents inside the bore-well done for the purpose at their premises. This is polluting the groundwater and people are suffering from various diseases, including cancer and skin conditions.”
Sarpanch Manjeet Kaur said, “The factory that manufactures alloys was earlier established on 6 kanal land. It has bore-wells into which chemical effluents, including acid, are released. Effluents are released in agricultural land as well. The factory was to be closed on March 23, 2015 but people of our villages were not aware of it and another factory nearby was shut. Now, after six years, the factory owner plans to expand the unit on 7 to 8 acre land behind the unit. More bore-wells are being planned. Therefore, we launched a protest against the factory and demanded its sealing.”
She claimed that gram panchayats of about 15 to 20 villages were affected by the factory and stood united against the unit.
Following the protest, Shahabad sub-division magistrate (SDM) Virender Chaudhary marked a probe into the matter and assured that the inquiry would be completed by May 18. Meanwhile, the unit has been closed by the administration.
SDM Virender said, “A protest was held by villagers at Yari village from about 10am to 2.30pm on Friday against effluents released by the factory. An enquiry has been marked into the genuine pollution related demand of villagers. We will not let the unit pollute land in villages. An assurance has been given to villagers that the enquiry marked will be up to May 18. The factory unit will remain shut till the enquiry is completed.”
