Death of cattle in Samba

PCB fails to close down polluting units, claims of action only on papers

Tahir Mushtaq

JAMMU, Aug 06: Despite death of several cattle in Samba after drinking contaminated water, Pollution Control Board (PCB) has still failed to take action against the management of the Pharma unit, which is running illegally.

It also raises question mark over the claims of the board that action is being taken against nearly 800 industrial units which have been put under Red category by the government.

According to sources there are many units of chemicals, pharmaceuticals and pesticides in Bari Brahmana, Kathua and Samba area of Jammu which are running without Gas Chromatograph whereas the administration has send notice to Indo Swift Pvt Ltd to close the unit but not obeying to the administration the unit is still running.

It is pertinent to mention here that this unit was illegally operating and PCB has approved the permission up to June 2011. Now, how this unit was being allowed to operate is yet to be ascertained.

Moreover the PCB has indicated that this bulk drugs manufacturing unit and the lab have been put in the Red Category which showed that they are highly polluting units.

It is important to mention here that this unit’s Effluent Treatment Plant was also not functioning for the past some time resulting the discharge of polluted water from this unit to the drains and then to nallah and finally, in river, without being treated.

When contacted Regional Director PCB Showkat Ahmed Choudhary admitted that the said unit has default and not working properly.

He maintained that it is still not proved that after consuming the water coming out from that particular unit the death buffaloes died. “The department has sent the samples for the tests and waiting for the reports” said Choudhary.

He further said that it is the responsibility of Veterinary doctors to find the actual reason behind the death of the animals.

Despite putting more than 800 industrial units put under Red and Orange category in Jammu and Kashmir, for releasing tones of pollutants every day, none of them have been closed down by State Pollution Control Board (SPCB), despite clear directions of the Supreme Court of India.

According to the officials records nearly 390 highly polluted industrial have been catogeroised as Red and 459 units have been classified as Orange after survey by the government, but most of them are running without taking any major steps to contain release of highly toxic material.