Home / Environment / Sugar Mill Sewage Chokes Bihar Villages, Sparks Health Crisis
Sugar Mill Sewage Chokes Bihar Villages, Sparks Health Crisis
11 Feb
Summary
- Untreated sewage from Majhaulia Sugar Mill causes widespread illness.
- Villagers report skin diseases and stomach ailments from polluted water.
- Mill management admits to annual compensation for affected farmers.
Prashant Kishor, founder of Jan Suraaj, has voiced grave concerns regarding the untreated sewage allegedly being discharged from the Majhaulia Sugar Mill in West Champaran. During his Bihar Navnirman Yatra, Kishor visited Majhaulia and reported that the mill's effluents are contaminating open areas, agricultural fields, and drainage channels.
This pollution is reportedly leading to widespread health issues in nearby villages, including skin diseases, stomach ailments, and infections, with the elderly and children being the most vulnerable. Kishor criticized the administration for inaction on this significant public health risk.
Local residents confirmed that polluted water has infiltrated residential zones and farmlands, damaging the environment and compromising drinking water sources. The mill's general manager stated that treated wastewater has flowed into the Rajghat river since 1932, but encroachment by villagers has led to open discharge in certain areas.
The mill management also mentioned conducting annual assessments to compensate farmers for losses incurred due to polluted water. Jan Suraaj activists have vowed to continue their protests and pursue administrative and legal avenues until accountability is established and corrective actions are implemented.
