A glaring example of environmental pollution has come to fore in Govindsar locality in Kathua District. The story of pollution in this industrial area and its extremely adverse impact on the children of the area in the age group of 0-13 has been disastrous. Excelsior has a horrendous report about the adverse impact of the industries set up within 200 to 300 meters from the habitat. We learn that there are about eight cement plants in the area as well as some pesticide and other polluting units within a radius of hardly 200 to 300 meters from Govindsar. Imagine the quantum of air pollution these would be causing particularly when there are reports that the factories have never gone through the process of detoxification.
Let us state the impact of polluted air on human beings in Govindsar area. For last over 15 years, the residents of the locality have been repeatedly approaching the Government to save them from the debilitating impact of polluted air and water in the area. Scores of children were born handicapped, mentally retarded and also with multiple problems of liver, pancreas, kidneys etc. in this particular locality. Over the years about half a dozen children died owing to these ailments. Recently one 15 year boy Pawan Gupta died suffering from some liver infection at DH Kathua. The people of the area have been complaining for more than a decade and half and during this period 50 to 60 children have been reported to be suffering from various deficiencies and defects. At that time, it was said that samples of water and soil will be taken to ascertain the actual cause of the problem. The death of fifteen year old Pawan Gupta became the reason for the people of Govindsar to come out on roads and demonstrate against the Government for not taking any notice of the problem with which the locality was beset. The Government has moved after fifteen years and the Deputy Commissioner of Kathua has asked the District Medical authorities to conduct necessary tests and research about the reason why large number of children in this locality are born with much debility and physical or mental infirmities. Belatedly, the Health Department has moved and decided to conduct tests of about 20 samples of deformed and debilitated children to come to the root of the ailment. Since the Kathua District Hospital does not have the necessary equipment and laboratorial facilities, the tests are conducted at Government Medical College Jammu, The District Health Officer says that the expenses incurred on testing will be borne by the Health Department and if need arises detailed tests could be carried out at PGI Chandigarh. It is sad state of affairs that neither the Pollution Board nor the Health Department of the State has taken any step for fifteen long years to mitigate the health problem of children in this locality. A few steps need to be taken on war footing. If it is established beyond doubt that polluted air and water are the root causes of human deformity and ailments, then these plants should be either removed from the site as they are in close proximity or these should be brought under close supervision of the Pollution Control process as is done everywhere in the country. Adequate medical assistance free of cost should be made available to the sufferers and the cost should be borne by the industrial units established there and functioning without inducting safety measures.
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