Environmental News from India:
- Haryana’s Kundli industrial zone, on the outskirts of Delhi, is a prime industrial zone. But, according to local people, unchecked disposal of contaminated water into the ground is posing a threat to their health.
- Local residents complain of skin diseases and stomach-related ailments due to regular consumption of contaminated groundwater. Many are now forced to purchase clean drinking water even as they continue using the polluted groundwater for other purposes such as washing clothes.
- The industrial zone requires a common effluent treatment plant of 10 MLD (Million Litres Per Day) capacity to treat the wastewater released by factories. But the existing capacity of the plant is only 4 MLD. Despite, repeated complaints to various local authorities the condition of the area remains poor.
The industrial zone in the Kundli area of Haryana’s Sonipat district has provided a livelihood to many over the last 40 years. From a sleepy village, Kundli turned into a prime-industrial zone. But this came at a price – the unchecked growth of industries resulted in air and water pollution, threatening the health of local people.
The locals allege that groundwater was contaminated by the industries as there was no check on them. As a result, they had to rely on private sources of clean water. Ironically, the need for clean water led to more industries being set up in the area to produce clean water. Locals note that these industries charge Rs. 300 rupees per month for the daily supply of 10 liters of water, cleaned through reverse osmosis. There are seven big and medium-scale water distillation plants that are active in the area and supply drinking water to the local people as the groundwater is contaminated and not fit for consumption.
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Source: Mongabay