Villagers allege unauthorised bitumen plants have caused huge deterioration in the air quality affecting both human and wildlife. Despite continuous urging, authorities have failed to take necessary action
Guwahati is growing. The old city of Guwahati that was limited from Pandu to around Ulubari at one point in time has now extended much further. The region that was once dotted with cliffs, hills and water bodies is now just a plain land with ever emerging skyscrapers.
News reports and the concerned intelligentsia of the city have been speaking on the city’s flood and pollution problems. Assurances are given by political leaders about preserving the city’s leftover geographical features – the surrounding hills and wetlands.
But in the race to become a true metropolis, will Guwahati ever be the same ‘Clean and Green Guwahati’ that the citizens have always boasted off?
As the metropolis continues to extend, the surrounding geographical aspects are gradually being destroyed for a section of the people’s, especially the business class’s vested interest. The city having a compact population, industries are not being permitted within its limits. Hence as per government norms, industrial areas are being set up outside the city’s boundaries. However, time and again various untoward incidents hampering the regular lives of the local populace have raised questions on the policies of caution followed by the government while setting up the factories and industries.
In one such incident, people of Pamohi village are now forced to fight for their right to breathe fresh air. On 31st January last, the villagers staged a protest against two bitumen manufacturing plants that are reportedly releasing pollutants in the area near Deepor Beel.
“We have been facing major problems from two bitumen manufacturing units that have come up in our village. There was already one about a kilometre away from Deepor Beel that has been in operation for the past five to six years. Although it is not in the immediate vicinity of the residential area, the smoke and chemicals of the bitumen have been adversely affecting our lives,” said a villager to G Plus.
People residing in close proximity of the plant have complained of a black chemical layer being formed on the surfaces of stagnant water, especially that in the wells that are used for their daily consumption including drinking. Also, smoke from the factory often engulfs their homes leading to serious respiratory issues.
“It becomes difficult to switch on the fans as the smoke circulates further, enhancing the problems. We have small children and senior citizens who are bearing the major brunt. There is the sound from the factory throughout the day and even at night. We cannot put our washed clothes outside to dry as the pollutants blacken them. The majority of the people keep on sneezing throughout due to the constant smoke and smell. We fear our children might end up having serious lung problems after all these years,” informed a woman.
Although the villages have been raising the issue with the authorities from time to time, no respite has been provided till date. Instead a new bitumen plant has come up in the village that has been functioning for the past two months.
“Rather than removing that plant, now another one has come up about two months ago near Parijat Academy. This new factory does not have a name board yet. But when they first inaugurated the building they said it was going to be a ceremony and party hall. They even invited the village head for the inauguration. But suddenly the whole thing has been converted into a bitumen factory. Left with no other option we have staged the protest,” a protestor said.
“Despite the harm done to the households the government has failed to take any action against these harmful industries. We cannot even fathom the harm it is doing to the wetland and its ecology,” said another villager.
Speaking to G Plus a villager informed, “The land belonged to the indigenous tribal people of Pamohi. But over the years many have sold off their properties. As far as we know this particular plot was bought by the Maharaja Agrasen Charitable Trust (under Marwari Agarwal Samaj) a few years back. They promised us with a school for our children, community hall and other such developments. The people of the village have also been invited to many of their celebrations like ‘jagrata’, functions and all. But now they have rented the plot to a leading media house.”
Going by the villagers’ claims, the total plot is above eight bighas, comprising even small hills. A look over the area, and many chopped down cliffs and hills were captured through our camera lens. Reportedly, many hills have been demolished in the name of development of the locality by private parties and the government alike.
As for the plot of land having the newly built bitumen plant, reportedly the property is being rented out by the Maharaja Agrasen Charitable Trust to a leading media house of the city.
“We always knew that the hills were not patta lands, but somehow private parties have managed to acquire even the hills. Just adjacent to the factory is the Dakini Pahar. There are elephants, wild chicken and even deer. The place is filled with rich flora and fauna. Earlier we use to see these wild animals from our homes. But ever since the factory has started functioning and the area constantly smells of chemicals these animals have disappeared. They are not seen near the village anymore. And probably it won’t take much long for people with vested interest to raze down the Dakini Pahar as well in the name of development,” said an old village elder.
Allegedly no permission had been taken from the gaon panchayat before setting up the bitumen plant. Kabita Boro Rongpi, president of Azara Goan panchayat said, “They did not take any consent from us before setting up the factory amidst this residential area.”
After all prayers and requests have fallen on the deaf years of the authorities, the villagers have taken to staging peaceful protests and have even submitted copies of a memorandum regarding the issue to the Kamrup Metropolitan District Administration and the Pollution Control Board of Assam on 4th February.
“The MLA does not come to check on us despite repeated requests. The manager of the factory claims that since they make bitumen for road construction they are permitted to work by the Public Works Department. Till date they have failed to produce any proper license given by the pollution board although they claim to have the same. As such we were compelled to submit a memorandum to the concerned authorities,” said a local.
It needs to be mentioned that the bitumen plants are within a 3 to 5 kilometres distance from the Deepor Beel that has been recognised as a major wetland under the Ramsar Site. An ‘Important Bird Area’ with a reserve forest nearby, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) had even directed the Assam government to declare the area around Deepor Beel as an eco-sensitive zone in 2019, which entails declaring up to 10 km around a protected area as a buffer zone and restricting industrial and other human activities. Yet encroachments have continued without restraint and various factories and businesses continue to be set up.
Pollution Control Board's data of last year shows that the Water Quality Index of Deepor Beel is marginal. The Dissolved Oxygen (DO) level of the wetland that should be more than 4 milligram per litre is marked at 7.8 to 10.2 mg/l, and the Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) that should be less than 3 milligram per litre was recorded at 2.1 - 3.9 mg/l at Deepor Beel.
G Plus spoke to the Pollution Control Board of Assam (PCBA) regarding the matter. Gokul Bhuyan, Superintending Engineer of PCBA who is in charge said, “We are yet to look into the matter after receiving the memorandum. After the issue is raised by the locals we will definitely take it up. The bitumen manufacturing plants will be checked for proper pollution clearance certificate which is mandatory in this regard as well for other necessary licenses. If anomalies are found, strict action will be taken.”
G Plus will continue to follow the steps taken by the concerned offices as well as the public legislator in this regard and details of the same will be provided in the subsequent issues.
