Excelsior Correspondent
KATHUA, Aug 3: Five cattle were killed after they allegedly consumed poisonous water mixed with untreated affluents coming out of a pesticide units in the Industrial area near Hatli here today.
Some people noticed some cattle struggling for lives in a small nallah near B R Agro Industry in the Industrial area during the day. While three cows had already died two more later died struggling on the nallah-bed. They reported the matter to Hatli Morh police and the District Administration.
Many people gathered on the spot and owners of the cattle also reached there. They noticed that some untreated affluents coming out of the nearby pesticide unit owned by a UP based investor had been mixing with water in the nallah. They also sounded the local State Pollution Control Board officials.
The District Administration taking cognizance of the matter asked Hatli Morh police to conduct postmortem of the animals through Board of Veterinary doctors. Postmortem of the animals’ body was conducted on the spot and later animals’ bodies disposed off. The police registered the case against the unit management and two senior officials were also detained for questioning. There was strong resentment among the locals of the area against the SPCB authorities which hardly conduct checking of the ETPs installed in the units in Kathua. Many units are not running their ETPs, in violations of the standing norms thus posing danger to the life of the people and animals.
Regional Director of the SPCB Jammu, Sajjad Mufti when contacted claimed that a team of PCB led by Deepak Abrol visited the spot and also collected water samples. He said that samples thus collected have been sent to the lab for testing. If any unit found violating the standing norms, will be issued closure notice and consent to operate issued by PCB will be withdrawn. He also claimed that fresh directions have been issued to the field staff to conduct surprise checking in the units and take cognizance of the issue.
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