PSS Vadodara demand urgent investigation to study unfolding disaster at Badi - Hoidad Lignite Mines at Bhavnagar District in Gujarat

Paryavaran Suraksha Samiti Vadodara wrote a letter to the different authorities including GPCB (Gujarat Pollution Control Board), GSDMA (Gujarat State Disaster Management Authority), Industries and Mines, demanding urgent investigation to study unfolding disaster at Badi - Hoidad Lignite Mines at Bhavnagar District in Gujarat. They demand urgent investigation at the place and suggest measures to tackle it.

Following the issues of Badi, Padva and neighbouring villagers, on October 1, the 12 Gam Khedut Sangharsh Samiti, Badi Padva and Paryavaran Suraksha Samiti (PSS) visited the mining waste dumpsite 350 meters away from Badi Village. "We observed that the dump site is sinking and timated it too have sunk by about 25 - 30 feet deep and around 150 meters length. At the same time the Maleshree River that flows 350 meters away from the Badi Village and the village pastoral land is contaminated due to the illegal mining waste flowing into it and is fast being rendered unfit for agriculture and animal husbandry needs. The river condition has worsened following the rains in the region, " Said Rohit Prajapati from Paryavaran Suraksha Samiti after visited the site.

He further added that the land and river get contaminated and ground water is also critically polluted. There is no effluent and sewage treatment plant which is clear violations of Supreme Court order. They also not following the legal notices by the GPCB.

They demand the concerned authorities on an immediate basis assess, investigate and study the unfolding environmental disaster. The competent authority should carry out a drone survey led by experts' team to study and put on record the environment disaster and suggest short – medium – long term measures to tackle it. Secondly they demand to stop the ongoing illegal mining, illegal dumping of mining waste and set an exemplary action against the company's top officials, and all errant authorities who failed to take timely action against the offenders.