1. Home
2. Jammu

Industrial waste posing serious health hazards in Bari Brahmna localities

Subodh Bhasin. Dated: 9/17/2018 7:54:57 AM

Subodh Bhasin
Jammu, Sep 16
Presence of pollutants in air and water in the areas surrounding industrial zones is a subject of major concern owing to nearing proximity of residential zones. With authorities failed to check the industrial pollution around Bari Brahmna, posing significant risk to the population living near and downstream of the Industrial Estate, Bari Brahmana.
As the concerned agencies are paddling slow towards increasing level of pollution by the industries the pollution level was hitting dangerous levels.
“It seems that alleged nexus is prevailing between SPCB officials and industrialists. The RSPM (respirable suspended particulate matter) level is higher than the permissible limit in industrial areas, particularly in Bari Brahmana and Samba” said locals
Talking young Bites correspondent locals said that the pollution level is so high around 5Kms of area that daily 10-15 patients visit doctors for the diseases caused due to pollution.
The worst affected areas include Birpur, Smailpur, Data Talab, Ward No-3, Ward No-4, where several cases of asthma, malaria and tuberculosis and even some people reported to have died due to cancer said Rajnesh Sharma a local resident. A view from Billol Bridge clearly shows the sorry state of affairs that even the authorities are least bothered to clean the nallah which is fast becoming repository of rampant industrial waste. As a result the said water bodies is heading towards extinction.
As per the report, at some places the RSPM, one of the deadliest pollutants, is almost double the permissible limit. The ambient air quality data of Jammu city and industrial areas show that there has been a constant increase in the air pollution level.
Talking to Young Bites correspondent Dr SS Sambyal Medical officer Chest Diseases Hospital, Jammu said that no doubt, the vehicular population has exploded over the years but the industrial sector has become the major contributor to air pollution in recent times and this is all happening because of the SCPB’s casual approach.
There are around 500 industrial units, spread over 7,700 kanals in the Bari Brahmana area. The ‘Red Category’ industries include pharmaceutical and pesticide units which are the major source of water and air pollution.
It is high time when authorities should take strong measures to control the Industrial pollution as the areas near Bari Brahmna Industries have turned into high-risk area and people are forced to use face masks at home because of smog and hazy conditions in the area due to air quality which has deteriorated to a dangerous level.