Kesri leads protest against industrial pollution in Bishnah, demands immediate action to save farmlands

• Warns of growing environmental crisis in Murar Chak; calls for united fight against drug menace

BISHNAH: Serious concern over rising industrial pollution and its damaging impact on agriculture echoed across Murar Chak village in Bishnah on Saturday as Shiv Sena Hindustan organised a protest meeting under the leadership of J&K State President Pandit Rajesh Kesri. Villagers, farmers, and party workers gathered in large numbers to voice their anger against the alleged discharge of toxic industrial waste into local drains, accusing the administration of failing to protect the livelihood of rural communities.

The protest, directed against the Industries Department and the government’s alleged inaction, witnessed slogans demanding immediate intervention to stop the release of harmful chemical waste into agricultural areas. Residents from Chak Murar, Dhyan, Karpal, and nearby hamlets alleged that untreated chemical discharge, particularly from a herbicide manufacturing factory operating in the area, is polluting irrigation channels and severely affecting crop production.

Villagers claimed that the contaminated water flowing through village drains has gradually reduced soil fertility, making agricultural land increasingly barren and unproductive. Farmers expressed deep anxiety over declining yields and mounting economic losses.

“Earlier our fields produced healthy crops, but now the productivity has dropped drastically. The soil has lost its strength because chemical-laced water is being used for irrigation,” said several local residents during the protest. They alleged that repeated complaints to authorities have yielded little result, forcing villagers to raise their voices collectively.

Addressing the gathering, Pandit Rajesh Kesri strongly criticised the administration for ignoring the hardships faced by farming families. He appealed to the government to “wake up from its Kumbhakaran-like slumber” and take urgent corrective measures before the environmental damage becomes irreversible.

“The people of these villages are living in fear and distress. Agriculture is their only source of livelihood. If the discharge of toxic chemicals is not stopped immediately, thousands of acres of fertile land may become useless in the coming years,” Kesri warned.

He demanded a thorough investigation into the functioning of the concerned factories and called for strict monitoring of industrial waste disposal mechanisms. He also urged pollution control authorities and district officials to conduct scientific testing of soil and water in the affected villages to assess the long-term environmental and health impact on residents.

Kesri further said that development and industrial growth should never come at the cost of public health and farmers’ survival. He stressed that industries operating in populated and agricultural areas must follow environmental norms strictly and ensure proper treatment of chemical waste before disposal.

During the meeting, villagers also expressed concern about the possible health hazards arising from prolonged exposure to polluted water and toxic substances. They demanded immediate cleaning of drains, compensation for crop losses, and permanent measures to prevent industrial contamination in future.

Apart from environmental concerns, Pandit Rajesh Kesri also raised the issue of the growing drug menace affecting society. Calling for collective social responsibility, he urged villagers to remain vigilant and united against drug peddlers.

“Drug addiction is destroying the future of our younger generation. Villagers must not allow drug peddlers to operate in their areas. Such anti-social elements should be socially boycotted and immediately reported to the police,” he asserted. He appealed to youth, parents, social organisations, and local leaders to work together to build a drug-free and healthy society.

Among those present on the occasion were Border President Sanjeev Sharma, Deputy Chief Balbir Kumar, Raj Kumar, Jaspal, Kuldev, Kamal Khajuria, Nand Kishore, Rakesh Sharma, and a large number of local residents and farmers.