Vadodara: The forest department on Saturday begun probe into the racket of disposing highly toxic industrial waste in Vishwamitri river which is known for its healthy population of crocodiles.
The Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB) on Thursday had busted the racket near Vadsar and lodged an FIR against five persons at Manjalpur police station. The accused were disposing the acidic waste into the river using a flexible hose pipeline.
“Our survey began on Saturday morning. The first thing we are ascertaining is whether any animal has got injured, sick or died due to the highly acidic effluent that was dumped in the river,” said deputy conservator Kartik Maharaja.
On Saturday, the department carried out the survey in the stretch of Vishwamitri falling between Munj Mahuda and Vadsar.
“The survey will continue as we will be ascertaining impact starting from Munj Mahuda to Padra to Dhadhar river — the entire river stretch that falls within Vadodara district,” he said. “Even if animal life is not damaged, we can carry out our action based on damage caused to their habitat under the Wildlife Protection Act. Toxic chemicals cannot be released in the river,” said Maharaja, adding that the GPCB too has sent a written communication to the department regarding the racket.
Crocodiles are protected under schedule 1 of the Wildlife Protection Act.
GPCB had acted on complaints that sarpanches of three gram panchayats – Karali, Khalipur and Maretha – had made to the district collector and the Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) in October this year. A stretch of nearly 8km from Vadsar to Maretha has been badly affected due to the illegal disposal of toxic industrial waste.
The FIR lodged by the GPCB names Vijesh Gandhi, who is said to have taken the site of the illegal activity on lease, a supervisor by the name of Ravi and three other accused – Bhikha Bhaliya, Dipak Bhaliya and Mahesh Bhaliya.