On deadly grounds

A VILLAGE in southeast Nepal -Bansbari - is under threat from industrialisation. Largely populated by traditional farming families of Tahrus andRajbansis, the area is infested with heavymetals, poisonous chemicals and sludge.Villagers say their pleas for a safer environment have fallen on deaf ears.

"We lodged a complaint with thechief district officer; he visited the areabut did nothing in return," saidBaduclev Adhikari, a retired civil servantwhose six-member family depends onthe yield from his field.

The most hazardous industries ofthe area are Himalaya Soap andChemicals, Nepal Beverage and GoodProducts and Nepal Liquors owned byBrook Bank India, Everest IronIndustry, Pashupati Iron Industry,Hulash Wire Industry, Everest Flourmills and the Nepal Electricity Authority(NEA) owned Mult,ifuel Power Plant(,sipp) installed with Finnish grants.

Said Adhikari, "The commonestproblem among the villagers living closeto the industry is burning sensation ineyes and throat irritation." Convincedthat the government has turned aNelson's eye to the problems, he says,"in summer when the canals and fieldsare flooded with water, you can see oilfloating far and wide."

"The diesel sludge, chemicals andpoisonous substances released by thempp, Hulash Wire and other industriesspreads all over the area destroying therice fields on which our life depends,"said 70-year old Ghuran Chaudharywho knits fishnets during summer.However, there are hardly any fish tocatch, the locals complain.

"I have treated cattle with swollenstomach and other problems for the lasttwo years," said Krishna Kafic at the veterinary treatment sub-centre atTankisinwari. "They died by drinkingpoisonous water or by eating slow poison through the greens," he confirms.

"The mpp does have bad environmental impact on the surroundings,"admitted Jukka Uosukainen, environmental adviser to the FinnishInternational Development Agency. "Idid the environmental impact of theplant on the area a year ago and foundout that it causes serious noise pollution," said Uosukainen.

"There is risk of atmospheric pollution as the plant emits a lot Of nitrogengases and also there is problem of oilflowing into the fields. However, the galvanising industry in the area also causesserious problem and the governmentmust pay attention to that as well," hesaid. Since the sludge is said to have highcalorific value, it is sold in two truckfullsevery month to a focal contractor.Ridiculing NEA's competence, locals saythey won't be surprised if NEA paid thecontractor to have the sludge dumpedelsewhere.