Salim Patel of of the South Gujarat-based NGO Prakruti Suraksha Mandal has complained to the Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB) about an illegal pipeline disposing of untreated effluent from Ankleshwar industrial area. He said, the polluted water was found to be discharged into Amlakhadi, a tributary of Narmada river, through an illegal pipeline near Piraman village.
In a statement, Patel said, this is not for the first time that polluted water was being discharged like this during monsoon, pointing out, this has in the past led to the death of animals drinking polluted water, with environmentalists and local people bringing this to light before the authorities concerned.
A GPCB regional officer said, he had received the complaint and its team has taken samples and instructed the Ankleshwar notified area officer to repair the pipeline. However, a notified area official said, the polluted water released into an old pipeline, which had been shut down, only for testing purpose.
Patel in his statement wondered why was the instruction to repair the pipeline given if it had been abandoned, adding locals had noticed that the polluted water kept flowing into Amlakhadi continuously for 24 hours. One wonders who gave the permission for this testing, he asked.
“We believe that it is illegal disposal of industrial polluted water, and those who are responsible for controlling pollution seem to be turning a blind eye to this. Punitive action should be taken against the perpetrators of the act”, he demanded.
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