Suhail Bhat
Srinagar, Oct 18: Residents of Lasjan and adjoining areas in the outskirts of Srinagar have been exposed to life-threatening diseases due to the continuous emission of toxic gases from wet mix macadam plants, according to locals, who blame non-compliance by plant owners and a lack of proper environmental audit by the Pollution Control Committee for the worsening air quality in the area.
The locals said the area is shrouded in a toxic grey shroud as a result of the toxic gases released by these plants, severely affecting the ambient air and turning the entire area into a “gas chamber”.
“We are unable to breathe after dusk. The authorities are unmoved by the fact that these plants are operating without any pollution control devices. The air quality has deteriorated in recent years”, a local resident, Mohammad Owaise said, adding that while environmental problems like these are considered catastrophic in other parts of the world, they go unnoticed in this area.
He said that many plants have sprouted in defiance of Supreme Court guidelines, endangering human life as well as flora and fauna while simultaneously increasing pollution levels. “Many plants lack pollution control devices, but they operate in collusion with Pollution Control Board officials who are unconcerned about the people who live nearby,” he said.
As air quality has deteriorated, the frequency of respiratory tract ailments has increased. “I have spent ten years working in a variety of hospitals, but the number of people here with respiratory tract infections astounded me. I see many cases of respiratory tract infections every day. In this area, allergic bronchitis, bronchial asthma, and a variety of lung diseases are all common,” a doctor at a local health centre said, adding that the elderly and those with weakened immune systems are particularly vulnerable.
People who are most affected are those who already have respiratory problems. “For a long time, my father has had a respiratory problem and would not leave the house in the evenings for fear of worsening the health condition”, Arif Ahmad, a local said, adding that while authorities make big claims about health and the environment, they turn a blind eye to violators.
According to residents, many complaints were filed with the Pollution Control Board about illegal wet mix macadam plants, but no action was taken, resulting in the plants polluting the environment and posing a health risk to the residents. “We urge the Anti-Corruption Bureau Chief to file a complaint against such illegal plants and take action against PCB officials who have encouraged such illegal activities for personal gain,” he said.
Regional Director of the Pollution Control Committee of Kashmir, Rafi Bhat, told Excelsior that they had already identified at least ten macadam plants that were violating the rules. “For the last two months there has been an uptick in the activity of these macadam plants and we are continuously monitoring the air quality. We have already issued notices to the violators,” he said.
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