Polluted Ami River poses health hazards for Gorakhpur residents

GORAKHPUR - Residents of Uttar Pradesh’s Gorakhpur district are suffering from severe health hazards due to the use of polluted water from the Ami River that flows through the area.

The industrial waste and chemicals flowing in the waters have not only destroyed the flora and fauna surrounding the river, but caused several diseases amongst children in villages located near its bank.

“We live near the Ami River and due to its polluted water our children are getting seriously ill. Cough, cold, vomiting and diarrhoea are common problems. The mosquito bites are bruising the entire body. You only tell us what should we do now. It has become very difficult to survive here,” said Kalavati Devi, a villager.

The waters of the Ami River flow across Siddarthnagar, Basti and Gorakhpur Districts in Uttar Pradesh.

Units located in the Gorakhpur Industrial Development Authority (GIDA), which do not have purification plants, are the main cause of pollution in the river.

Several campaigns were initiated in the past to save the Ami, but the continued apathy of the authorities has resulted in further deterioration of the river.

“The government hasn’t taken any initiative to start the cleaning process. Since the past 14-15 months the residents of the area, the district leaders, the village panchayat (village council) and members of the district panchayat (district council) have taken out many peaceful movements to draw their attention,” said Vishwajit Singh, Chairman, Save Ami campaign.

Residents allege that the government’s pollution control bodies have taken no initiative. (ANI)