Daman MP Umesh Patel flags environmental emergency in South Gujarat

Daman : Sounding a grave warning over the worsening environmental and public health crisis in South Gujarat, Daman and Diu Member of Parliament Umesh Babubhai Patel has submitted a detailed memorandum to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, seeking immediate national-level intervention to address severe pollution of the Damanganga and Kolak rivers, widespread groundwater contamination, and hazardous air pollution caused by chemical industries in Vapi and Daman.

In his memorandum, the MP painted a disturbing picture of ecological collapse, stating that the Damanganga and Kolak rivers have “ceased to exist as rivers and have turned into chemical drains.” Decades of unchecked discharge of toxic industrial waste from chemical units in Vapi and pharmaceutical industries in Daman, he said, have irreversibly damaged water bodies and poisoned groundwater across the region.

“This is not just environmental negligence; it is a direct assault on the right to life,” Patel wrote, warning that the region is rapidly moving towards a full-scale public health disaster if decisive action is not taken immediately.

Toxic Water, Rising Diseases

The MP highlighted that in many parts of Daman, borewell water has become unfit for drinking, with tests revealing the presence of heavy metals and toxic chemicals. As a result, there has been a sharp rise in serious ailments, including cancer, kidney and liver disorders, skin diseases, and respiratory illnesses.

He further pointed out that continuous emission of toxic gases, acidic fumes and chemical smoke from Vapi’s industrial belt has turned surrounding areas into what locals describe as a “gas chamber.” “Children are increasingly suffering from asthma, allergies, eye and skin infections, and lung diseases,” Patel noted, adding that agricultural land is also being severely damaged due to prolonged exposure to industrial pollution.

Call for National-Level Action

Terming the situation a potential national disaster, the MP urged the Centre to intervene directly instead of leaving the matter solely to state or local authorities. Among his key demands are the declaration of the Damanganga and Kolak rivers as ‘Severely Polluted River Stretches’ and the classification of Vapi as a Critically Polluted Industrial Area.

He has also sought the constitution of a high-level joint investigation committee comprising the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the Ministry of Environment, and the Ministry of Jal Shakti to probe violations and fix accountability.

FIRs, Penalties and Zero Liquid Discharge

Patel has demanded criminal proceedings and FIRs against polluting industries, along with the imposition of heavy environmental compensation on guilty units. Stressing the need for prevention, he called for the strict implementation of Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) norms across all chemical and pharmaceutical units.

To address the human cost of pollution, the MP has urged the government to announce a Special National Groundwater Rejuvenation Package for Daman, ensure immediate alternative arrangements for safe drinking water, and roll out a special health survey and free treatment programme for affected residents.

“If strict and timely action is not taken, this region could become a permanent environmental disaster zone, endangering the future of generations to come,” Patel warned, while expressing confidence that the Prime Minister would take strong and decisive steps in the national interest.