Mills dump rice husk ash in open, release waste water in empty plots

Parveen Arora

Tribune News Service

Karnal, February 4

Rice mills are contributing a lot to air, soil and water pollution in the district.

In the absence of proper management of collection, storage and disposal of rice husk ash in several mills, the ash is being dumped in the open along roads in the rural areas. This practice has become environmental hazard for the people living in the vicinity and commuters as this ash reportedly causes skin-related diseases.

Sources say effluent treatment plants of several mills are not in working condition, due to which effluents are being discharged unscientifically in the open without any treatment.

Residents are blaming the administration and the Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB) for not taking any stringent action against such environmental hazard.

The Tribune team visited various areas in the district and found that the rice husk ash was dumped in Gharaunda, Karnal, Taraori and Nilokheri areas openly. Similarly, polluted water released in the open was emanating foul smell in the area.

Residents alleged that the practice was causing air and soil pollution and the board should take strict action. They said that ash dumped in the open had become hazardous for them. They said that waste water was also being released in empty plots and fields.

“Releasing polluted water in open fields and dumping rice husk ash in the open are part of public nuisance activity. The board and the district administration take action if anybody found involved in such practice. As of now, we have not received any such complaint,” said Virender Punia, SDO, HSPCB. He said that the installation of water treatment plant was mandatory in every mill.

Hansraj Singla, state president, Haryana Rice Millers’ Association, said that some millers might be involved in such practice which was not good for the environment. He said that in the last three years, most of the millers had adopted hi-tech technologies to tackle waste like rice husk ash and water and the remaining one would adopt it soon.

Deputy Commissioner Aditya Dahiya said that the issue came to his notice today. “I will ask the regional officer of the HSPCB to send a team to inspect the mills and their surrounding areas and also issue challan to the violators,” said the DC.

“We will ask the rice millers’ association to stop this kind of practice. Some of the rice millers are using the husk ash for good ecological use,” he added.