A lethal Combination: Illegal Mining & Industrial Pollution in BBN Industrial Area

12/6/2014

12TH June 2014: After a strenuous two hour long field visit & discussion session on good practices & green norms with officials at Ambuja Cement Factory, Ropar, we were engaged in ordering our lunch and at the same time, waiting for Balkrishna Sharma, the founder of Him Parivesh Environmental Protection Organisation (HPEPO). Shortly, he joined us at lunch table and to explain to us about the illegal mining of river bed sand & gravel and the impact of toxic industrial effluents from Baddi Barotiwala & Nalagarh Industrial Area (BBNIA) on the surrounding areas.

One of the major reasons the road bridge collapsed was the excessive sand mining in the bed of river Sirsa. Consequently, the State government authorities had made a strong concrete bridge parallel to the old one.

Sharma informed that river bed sand mining has been banned by the State Government since last two years in this region and that a hefty fine has been imposed on the defaulters. He further added that after imposition of the ban, the situation has improved gradually, but illegal mining is still on the rolls in interior regions.

We got down from the bus and moved closer to the bridge. We were standing on the new bridge, analysing the course of the Sirsa River flowing below us. Sharma pointed towards the remains of the collapsed bridge & the Demarcated Protected Forests (DPF) - called Jangalaad in local language. All of a sudden, three-four trucks overloaded with materials traversed the bridge, the deck of the bridge vibrated rhythmically with moderate amplitude - a sign of..... another disaster waiting to happen.

Baddi Barotiwala & Nalagarh Industrial Area - One of the Asia's biggest pharmaceutical hubs

As we continued travelling through the narrow roads- not exactly meant for two way traffic, I managed to peep at the river flowing on my left side through the glass window. The rivers in this region were dusky, significantly polluted, carrying toxic industrial wastes, bulk of which were produced and injected from the pharmaceutical & textile companies situated on the banks of the rivers.This region almost made it to the CPCB's 2009 list of most criticallypolluted areas in the country.

Sharma explained that the local people are unable to use the river water for drinking &household purposes considering that it is heavily polluted, and are having to pump out the ground water through individual submersible pumps. Even some of the Industries situated on the banks of these rivers are exploiting the easily accessible ground water without taking any approval from the concerned local authority. The cattle and other animals, with no other option are forced to consume the polluted river water making them suffer from health problems including fertility issues.

On the other hand, an RTI was filed in 2006 by the HPEPO, addressing the local authorities to inform the number of authorised pump operators extracting ground water in the region. However, there has been no satisfactory reply, said Sharma.

Well, there aresome rays of hope too. Oh really?
After continual protests from Sharma's team and with the support of local people, a Common Effluent Treatment Plant (CETP) had been approved by local authorities in the Baddi-Barotiwala -Nalagarh industrial area to check industrial pollution. A set of modest questions comes to my mind- Where will the treated water from the CETP go? Into the rivers? Will it be again polluted at some other point downstream? Can't we utilise it more optimally? Well, presently, the piping work for the plant is in progress. Let's see, how the things proceed.

Further, the complaints of illegal mining in Baddi, Nalagarh and some other bordering areas were common but illegal mining which was going unnoticed in interiors has come to the light after the recent Beas tragedy. The government has directed authorities to take firm steps to curb the practise and close all "illegal" approach roads to river banks. This time I try my best to be optimistic, but then again... Will these 'firm steps' last long? Whether these illegal approach roads will remain closed forever?

The Missing Key Stone
The impacts of sand-gravel mining from, within or near a river bed on Instream habitat, groundwater table, riparian habitat etc. has historically been ignored in our government's strategic - long term plans. Till date, there isn't a mining Policy which is specifically formulated & efficiently implemented for a region or area like BBN industrial area. Then again, issues related to the local environment & interests of local people that should be taken into account before outlining& finalising such policies, and are rarely incorporated in the Final Policy.

The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Study, one of the essential prerequisite for setting up any industrial project or plant in a region, has been restricted to just a formality by the concerned ministries & authorities. On a fleeting examination, one can easily realise that these studies are nothing but the Xerox copies of each other. The same applies to other requirements.

As a result, the numbers of industries are increasing rapidly, so is industrial pollution increasing exponentially at an even more rapid rate. Sooner or later, the day will come when some of our researchers and scientist will be doing an extensive study on 'How Industrial pollution in BBN Industrial Area has made the it 'almost uninhabitable for birds & animals... for the aquatic life.... for the trees & plants, for Homo sapiens... and for the nature to grow.'

And Contrary to this, I surely consider that at that moment, one of our government's hoarding will proudly read - BBN Industrial Area. Now World's largest Industrial Hub!

After this field visit and conversation with Sharma, the Deming Cycle or the PDCA Cycle (Plan - Do - Check - Act) that I learnt during my college days has created a wild uproar in my mind. And then I remember one of my Professor's words 'continuous improvement is key stone here.'

At present, to catch up the pace of Globalisation, the government, the local authorities, and each one of us, is missing that key stone. The development phase that our country is progressing through requires every process, every action, small or big, direct or indirect, - the ingredient of continuous improvement.

And above all, while dealing with Nature, I have always believed that a preventive action is far better choice than a corrective one..... It's virtually impossible to recover.