MLA visits Masani Barrage, villagers flag contamination by untreated water

Tribune News Service

Rewari, August 3
Despite numerous complaints to the authorities concerned, untreated, chemical-laced water is being released into the Masani Barrage area, which is taking a toll on the groundwater and agricultural land of nearby villages in Rewari district.

Govt unmoved
The previous Congress government had connected the barrage to the JLN Canal to improve the water table, but chemical-laced water is being discharged here and the state government is not taking any action in this regard. — Chiranjeev Rao, MLA

Taking note of the issue, local Congress MLA Chiranjeev Rao, along with his supporters, reached the Masani Barrage today to take stock of the situation. Many people from nearby villages gathered there and apprised him of their grievances. They claimed that they had run from pillar to post to get the issue resolved, but to no avail.
“The water accumulated in the area is green in colour and gives out a foul smell – which is a clear evidence that untreated water is being discharged from sewage treatment plants (STPs) of the nearby areas. This has led to the contamination of groundwater, besides damaging the trees and other vegetation of nearby villages,” claimed Prakash Yadav of Kharkara village, who is fighting a case in this regard in the National Green Tribunal (NGT).
“There is a lot of difference between what the BJP government says and what it does. The previous Congress government had connected the barrage to the JLN Canal to ensure the reach of the canal water here to benefit the people and to improve the water table but chemical-laced, contaminated water is being discharged here and the state government is not taking any action in this regard,” said Rao.
Rao pointed out that the lives of people of Khaliyavas, Kharkada, Titarpur, Masani, Dungarvas, Nikhri, Bhatsana, Niganiyavas, Rasgan, Jadthal villages, located nearby, had become difficult due to the issue. He said: “People are suffering from skin and other serious diseases, crops are not growing and borewell water cannot be used for animals.”
“Some time ago, former Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar had visited the place and announced that the Masani Barrage would be converted into a tourist spot. He had also promised to provide a boating facility here, stating that it would generate employment opportunities, but no action has so far been taken in this regard. Rather, the Masani Barrage has turned into a lake of dirty water,” the MLA said.
Notably, the NGT has been hearing a complaint in this regard. Recently, the local office of the Haryana State Pollution Control Board had submitted a report in the NGT, stating that it has urged the Rewari Deputy Commissioner to recover environmental compensation of over Rs 3 crore from five STPs. Sources said the STPs did not deposit the fine in the stipulated time.