Toxic waste from industry pollutes Ramsar site in Uttar Pradesh

The Ramsar site set up in fresh water of Ganges in 165 km stretch from Bijnore to Narora in Uttar Pradesh for protection of water bodies is getting contaminated due to heavy discharge of industrial effluents, officials said.

In last three months four several species of dead fish, crocodiles and tortoises were recovered from the site, set up by World Wildlife Fund in 2005, they said. The Ramsar sites are tag for critical water bodies across the globe.

The toxic waste containing methane and other poisonous substances is allegedly being discharged from an industrial
unit of the Simbhaoli sugar mill into the fresh water, near
Ghaziabad district, they said.

About 35 villages in the area have also been affected due to the contaminated water. 

Two notices were issued to the industrial unit and the mill-owners were asked to recycle the water, UP Pollution Control Board regional manager Tu Khan said.

However, general manager of the unit RK Singh claimed the methane discharge is within permissible limits.

District magistrate Hredesh Kumar said an inquiry will be conducted in this regard and strict action will be taken if the mill owners are found guilty.