Bidar: The district administration has ordered the closure of four factories in the Humnabad industrial area following directions from rural development and panchayat raj minister and Bidar district in-charge Eshwar Khandre over allegations of river pollution.Khandre had directed immediate action after sustained public protests against industries allegedly discharging chemical effluents into the Guruganga and Manjra rivers.Speaking to TOI, Khandre said he had issued written instructions to the deputy commissioner to enforce immediate closure orders against M/s 6H Industries, M/s Satyadeepti Pharma, KGN Industries and M/s Himalaya Industries, and submit a compliance report within 24 hours.According to the minister, toxic chemical waste released from certain factories in the Humnabad industrial area into the Manikanagar stream and subsequently into the Guruganga and Manjra rivers polluted water sources and created a foul stench. Residents alleged that the contamination had adversely affected both human and livestock health. The issue triggered rallies, meetings, protests and awareness campaigns under the banner of “Save Guruganga”.Khandre said water from the polluted stream eventually flows into the backwaters of the Karanja reservoir, raising serious concerns over contamination of drinking water sources. In view of the potential public health threat, he said immediate action was taken under Section 152 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023, to prevent public nuisance and protect water resources.The minister said that following media reports, he had on Aug 5 directed the district administration to conduct water quality tests, initiate strict action against polluting industries as per regulations, safeguard water bodies and submit an action-taken report within 48 hours.Khandre recalled that while serving as forest, environment and ecology minister, he had ordered an inquiry into similar complaints. Based on the findings, the deputy commissioner had instructed the Humnabad tahsildar on July 29, 2024, to seal nine polluting industries. Of those, four have now been shut down.
