Jaisinghpur residents blame stone crushers for health woes

The dust emitted by stone-crushing units located in the Jaisinghpur area of Kangra district has become a matter of concern for the residents of the area. The residents attribute this pollution as the reason for their illnesses.

The dust has not only been affecting the health of people residing in more than one dozen villages along the Beas, but it has also been polluting the water. At present, a significant number of people were suffering from skin, eye, respiratory and other ailments.

The Tribune team, today, visited the Jaisinghpur area. It was noticed that 90 per cent stone crushers functioning in the area have not been not complying with the parameters set by the Himachal Pradesh State Pollution Control Board (HPPCB). These units were required to install water sprayers and a fabric filter system to check the dust. However, they have failed to follow the norms, endangering lives of the people.

Various NGOs working for the protection of the environment in Thural and Jaisinghpur have urged the state government to take measures to keep the environment healthy in the region.

Ashwani Gautam, a spokesman of NGO ‘Save Environment Save Neugal river’ while talking to The Tribune, said, “Many people residing near the stone crushers were suffering from various health problems. This was due to the large scale pollution in the area.”

Most of the stone crushers had been installed in a populated area and were functioning round the clock without any check from the local authorities. This was adversely affecting the health of aged people and children were worst hit.

While interacting with The Tribune, local residents and panchayat pradhans said they had written to the state Mining Department and district administration time and again demanding appropriate action against the units so that the villagers could live a healthy life. However, no action was taken and today these plants have become a major health hazard in the area.

“Many villagers said because of the functioning of stone crushers all through the night, their lives had become miserable. Neither could children study nor could the elderly sleep. The matter was reported to SDM Mining officers many a time, but all in vain,” they said.

Not against development

We are not against development, but it should not be at the cost of human health. Everyone deserves to live in a pollution-free environment.  Residents