PK raises concern over sugar mill sewage discharge in West Champaran

Bettiah: Jan Suraaj founder Prashant Kishor on Tuesday raised serious concerns over the alleged discharge of untreated sewage from Majhaulia Sugar Mill in West Champaran, claiming it is causing widespread illness and posing a major public health risk in nearby villages.

During his Bihar Navnirman Yatra, Kishor visited Majhaulia while travelling from Bettiah to Motihari after kicking off the campaign from Bagaha on Sunday.


He interacted with local residents and alleged that untreated effluents from the sugar mill are being continuously released into open areas, agriculture fields and drainage channels, contaminating drinking water sources and disrupting daily life.

“The polluted water is leading to skin diseases, stomach ailments and infections. Children and the elderly are the worst affected. Despite the seriousness of the issue, the administration has turned a blind eye and failed to take concrete action,” Kishor said.

Villagers told him that polluted water has entered residential areas, farmlands and natural water channels, causing health problems, environmental damage and contamination of multiple drinking water sources.

Kishor also criticised the recent rejection of the Jan Suraaj petition in the Supreme Court.

Commenting on the political exchange between CM Nitish Kumar and former CM Rabri Devi, Kishor said it is the people who have elected Nitish as their representative, and “Hence, whatever he (CM) says, the people will have to listen to it”.

Jan Suraaj activists said they would continue their protest against pollution caused by the Majhaulia Sugar Mill and pursue the matter at administrative and legal levels until accountability is fixed and corrective action is taken.

Shailendra Kumar Tripathi, general manager (sugar cane) of Majhaulia Sugar Mill, said the wastewater from the sugar mill after treatment has been flowing into the Rajghat river since 1932.

To manage the flow of water, a drainage channel was constructed up to Gurchurwa village and covered with slabs. However, beyond this point, the main drain area has been encroached upon by villagers of Bhana Chak village, who have built houses over it. As a result, wastewater flows in the open in this area.

Nevertheless, the mill management conducts an annual assessment of the losses suffered by farmers affected by the polluted water and provides compensation accordingly, he said.