Untreated toxic effluent discharged into the Chandona river by a sugar mill in Madhukhali municipality of the district has been polluting the river and its surrounding areas during sugarcane crushing season for the last seven years.

On a recent visit to the area, this correspondent found untreated toxic water from Faridpur Sugar Mills falling into a canal in the area and flowing into the river in Mohishapur area of Madhukali upazila. The mill, which is around 300 metres upstream of the Chandona, releases the untreated water through the canal.

Around 3,000 people of four villages in the municipality have been suffering due to the strong smell of the chemicals. About 1,500 students of Ideal Academy and Faridpur Sugar Mills High School, and traders of Mill Gate Bazar area, are the worst sufferers as the canal is situated beside the school and the bazar.

Faridpur Sugar Mills was set up by the government in 1974 and started trial production in 1976.

Locals said negligence of the mill authorities is the main cause of their suffering, adding that they sometimes found dead fish floating in the water near the area where the untreated toxic water met the river.

“We cannot pay attention in class due to the strong smell of chemicals. We also get the smell in our houses,” said a student of Faridpur Sugar Mills High School said.

“The number of students in our institution is decreasing day by day due to the strong smell of untreated toxic water. I shall talk with the mill authorities about it as soon as possible,” said Ideal Academy Principal Md Masudur Rahman.

“We suffer a lot all through the crushing season as the canal flows past our shops,” said Palash Saha, a trader in Mill Gate Bazar.

“I shall send our inspector to visit the area and then I will ask the authorities of the mill to take necessary steps,” said district Department of Environment Deputy Director Lutfor Rahman.

“Chandona is a very important river in the area. Pollution of the river with untreated toxic water must be stopped. I shall take steps against it,” district Water Development Board Executive Engineer Sultan Mahmud said.

“Lime and sulphur-dioxide mix with the water and create the strong smell. We use the water of our mill's pond, and I do not know if it flows into the river,” the mill's Managing Director Md Rafilul Islam said.