Rivers Turned Black: Court Slams State Inaction

The Chhattisgarh High Court has expressed grave concern over the escalating pollution crisis in the Shivnath and Kharun rivers, citing reports of untreated industrial discharge, blackened water, and significant fish deaths. The court rebuked the state for failing to implement its earlier directions aimed at curbing environmental damage.

A Public Interest Litigation initiated in 2024 brought forth alarming evidence from May this year detailing the dire state of these rivers. Untreated waste from a factory has transformed the Shivnath River into a black, contaminated flow, causing mass aquatic fatalities. Despite previous orders to cease operations, discharge has resumed.

Similarly, the Kharun River is in peril due to pollution from a liquor factory. Illegal mining pits have become reservoirs of toxic waste, exacerbating the contamination of the river, which locals report has turned black and is unsafe for animals.

The court's order noted that workers are often provided with liquor and employment, discouraging protests against the polluting factories. The situation in Bilaspur's Chherkabandha also highlights a distillery releasing black smoke and foul odors near a school, with villagers feeling powerless due to their dependence on the factory for employment and alcohol.

Chief Justice Ramesh Sinha and Justice Ravindra Kumar Agrawal emphasized that the continued deterioration of these vital water resources indicates a systematic failure in regulatory oversight and enforcement. The court has demanded personal affidavits from the Chhattisgarh government's Secretary and the Environment Conservation Board detailing actions taken against the polluting companies, with the next hearing scheduled for May 14.