Fly ash dumped near Panipat village, residents a harried lot

Mukesh Tandon

Tribune News Service

Panipat, August 21

The unscientific disposal of fly ash emitted by Panipat thermal power station has been affecting the health of Jatal village residents for the past four decades, as many of them suffer from cancer, asthma, tuberculosis, skin disease and eye allergy.

They have filed a complaint with the NGT, which has ordered the Haryana State Pollution Control Board to initiate action and prepare an action-taken report within a month. The complaint stated, “About 40 people have died due to cancer in the village in the past four decades, 70 per cent of residents are suffering from asthma, 90 per cent have eye diseases and 70 to 80 per cent are suffering from skin diseases. Even animals have been afflicted with several diseases.”

Villagers had blocked traffic on the Assandh road last year to make the district authorities aware of their problem. But that failed to move the powers that be. Instead, the police had registered a case against villagers.

Balwinder Singh, former sarpanch, said: “The panchayat has filed complaints to the district administration and the power plant authorities several times. Power plant representatives had visited the village after their protest, but the problem persists.”

Sarpanch Mahavir Singh said, “Not only health of villagers has been affected, but agriculture too has been a casualty.” Bhupender Singh Chahal, regional officer, HSPCB, said contentions of villagers would be verified.