The Fact Finding Mission’s Major Findings:
Site Observation
-Damage to farmers’ rice paddy plantation by toxic chemicals released into the local river
-Polluted water has not only affected farmers but have put the aquatic creatures including fish, snake, and frog on the verge of extinction.
-Skin problem to local inhabitants.
-Serious environmental degradation, yield and soil health reduced.
-Deterioration of soil.
Industry Inspection
-No treatment plant in all industries
– Mixed the untreated water into the river.
-Lack of proper management of waste
-Large amount of effluent is generated from industries,
-Disposed waste matter into the river .
Farmer’s Demands
-Compensation of damaged paddy plantation.
– Industries should release only treated water into the river.
– Necessary action against industries for should be taken
Waste water discharged from distilleries and Sugar mill has polluted local river in Rautahat, affected aquatic creatures and damaged farmers’ rice paddy planting. From 5 to 7 September 2014, the National Peasants Coalition (An alliance of major farmer’s association in Nepal) organized a fact-finding mission among local farmers who are the victim of industrial toxic expulsion, and toxic generator three industries (Shree Ram sugar mills, Joyti distillery and Baba distillery) in Rauthat District Nepal, with the support of IFAD/MTCP2 National Implementing Agency, to document, analyze and investigate the concerns about the waste and toxic water released, lack of proper management of waste by three industries and affected area such as the farmer’s land and their paddy plantation , aquatic creatures and so on.
For all members of the mission, it became highly evident that Shreeram Sugar Mill in Garuda, Jyoti Distillery in Pipara Pokhariya and Baba Distillery in Birta are allegedly responsible for the damage and It was sheer act of negligence that they disposed harmful chemicals into the flooding river, which damaged paddy cultivated in a huge swath of land in the lower riparian areas. Furthermore, the mission also found the truth that toxic waste released by local -distilleries into the Jhanjh River during the monsoon floods, thousands of farmers from over a dozen villages, including Rajpur, Matsari, Badaharwa, Mithuawa, Jayanagar and Jhunkhunawa were affected and around 800 hectors cultivated paddy plantation which costs approximately Rs 600 million(6 million US Dollar) at local price, was also damaged. After observing the reality the mission team submitted its preliminary report to the Prime Minister Mr. Sushil Koirala, Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Mr. Bamdev Gautam and Agriculture Development Minister Mr. Hari Prasad Parajuli urging to fulfill the farmer’s demand and solve the problem as soon as possible. The mission was coordinated by Mr. Balram Banskota and advised by Mr. Chitra Bdr. Shrestha, Bhanu Sigdel, Prof. Keshave Khadka and Thakur Sharma
By National Peasants Coalition, In support with IFAD/MTCP2 National Implementing Agency Nepal