Effluents flowing from mines turn Dantewada’s lifeline Dankini into a curse
The polluted river in Dantewada on Friday. (Photo: PTI)
Raipur: The Red region of Chhattisgarh’s Dantewada is struck by another ‘red’ enemy — Lal Nadi Dankini, once considered as the lifeline of the region. Over the past few decades, the river has turned into red, receiving effluents like red oxide and arsenic from iron ore mines in Bailadila, run by the National Mineral Development Corporation.
The polluted river water is causing kidney diseases among the local adivasis besides leaving vast expanse of once-agriculture fields arid. “Dankini river originates from Bailadila hill and falls in the river Indravati. Nearly one lakh tribals live along its 60 km-course in the district,” Avdesh Gautam, green activist of Dantewada, said.
Noted ethnologist and author Niranjan Mahawar, who has been taking up the issue with the NMDC authorities as well as the state administration for the past three decades, said the river has now become a curse for the tribal population resulting in sufferings and misery.
He said the pollution becomes acute in monsoon season, triggering mass migration of tribals in the area. “There are a dozen of effluent treatment plants set up by NMDC in the area. But following heavy rains during monsoon, those treatment plants get inundated and stop functioning, directing the effluent entirely to the river,” he added.
( Source : deccan chronicle )
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