The problem

In 1983, the Gujarat Industrial Development Corporation (GIDC) acquired land in Sarigam for setting up an industrial estate. They originally announced that there would be only engineering units in the area but later declared it a chemicals zone. 450-odd industrial units, including 50 chemical units have contaminated the groundwater and villagers claim that some units even use bore-wells to pump untreated effluents into the ground.

A Greenpeace study shows that groundwater in Sarigam is contaminated with organic pollutants such as tri-chloroethane, benzene and several organochlorine compounds. Benzene is a known carcinogen and dichlorobenzene is a persistent organic pollutant, which remains in the environment for a very long period of time.

Health Impact

As an effect of the industrial pollution, people are suffering skin ailments, respiratory problems and headaches. People of the area also complained of ailments such as epilepsy, skin and throat problems, cancer and paraplegia (paralysis of both the legs), while pregnant women are giving birth to still-born children.

Current Activity

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