Taking the APPCB complex security guards by complete surprise...
Medak district, home to 22 lakes, some of the biggest producers
of bulk drugs, chemicals, dyes, paper, pulp and pesticide products
and of course some 20 odd lac people. Over the course of the past
two decades, these lakes once fresh and beautiful have severely
been contaminated by the unregulated discharge of toxic sludge and
effluents. High rates of pollution related illnesses like cancer,
heart-diseases, asthma and bronchitis affecting the residents of
Patancheru can obviously be linked to the contamination of the
groundwater.
These industries instead of being brought to the book by the
Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board (APPCB) have been given
environmental clearances, permitting them to continue to
contaminate the lakes and in effect the lives of the people of
Medak.
Why and on what basis the clearances were given to these
polluters by the Pollution 'Control' Board (while claiming the
polluting industries were being shut down at various public
hearings)? What action had the Pollution Control Board taken to
check the severe contamination that was destroying the ecology of
Medak district?
We didn't know the answers…in fact nobody did. But surely we
wanted some.
Armed with gloves and spades, we filled our buckets with the
stinking, toxic sludge which had ruined Asanikunta for over 20
years. It was time to ask some questions of our own to the
Pollution Control Board. - Could they live with the toxic sludge
that we were going to 'dump' on their own doorstep for just one
day? - Would they now face reality brought right to their
doorstep and take remedial measures?
Taking the APPBC complex security guards by complete surprise we
stormed in with our banners, boards and buckets full of sludge.
While the rest of us dumped our final representation on the steps
of the Pollution Control (control…not really) Board, two of our
fellow activists handcuffed themselves to the door sending the
officials and guards into further shock. Amidst the flashing of
press cameras, hapless guards and officials, tearing down our
posters, we brought 'their' muck right to them.
Throughout the day we stood our ground…the pleading middle rank
officials who wanted us to come inside, the mediating
oft-threatening police officers notwithstanding. We helped each
other when we fell, while others took a well- deserved break,
others took turns at holding the banner, lifting the banner
high…quite literally.
The press and the police were so won over by our efforts that
they helped us by mediating and pressuring the Board to accept our
'representation' and meeting with us.
Finally they had to come out. The Pollution Control Board
members admitted that there was a problem and not just at their
doorstep. Assuring us that action against the polluting industries
and further studies and remedial measures would be taken, the Board
members desisted from committing to a specific time period.
It paid off; all of us came out of the meeting with a sense of
accomplishment. But the task isn't done…not yet. We'll be back…
till the smells go away.
Read the
Press Release
This update was filed from the scene of action by Greenpeace
volunteers Nitin and Manmeet.
Do you have a Greenpeace experience to share through this site?
Email our Webmaster at 