11 The glory of rice cultivation including Basmati in the village has now become a thing of the past 11 The glory of rice cultivation including Basmati in the village is now a thing of the past

Sabarmati river and Kharikat canal passing through Kheda taluka in Kheda district have been continuously receiving chemical-laden and dirty black water from Sabarmati river and Kharikat canal for the last 35 years. Farmers have lost the fertility of their land due to the black water containing chemicals. This chemical water has become saline in thousands of Vidya lands and the lands have become barren. The lands which do not produce crops.

Kharikat Canal, which was once known as Kharikat River, flows from Vatwa Vizol in Ahmedabad to Kheda villages in Kheda district. Since the year 1988, this Kharikat canal has also been continuously running chemically treated water. The chemical black water of Kharikat Canal has forced the farmers of 11 villages like Kalali, Kanera, Pingalj, Bheri, Chalindra, Navagam, Malarpura, Kathwada, Kashipura, Sarsa, Nayaka, Pansoli to cultivate with this black water.

Once a gold mine, these fertile lands used to grow one of the number of paddies in Gujarat. Today, standing crops in those lands dry up. Before 1988, rice like Basmati, Jirasar, Pankhari, Krishna Kamod was produced in large quantities in 11 villages of Kalam bandhi area which is not happening now. At the earliest, if the government does not release this black water to the farmers, then it will be the turn of the farmers to be ruined by this same black water.

The plant turns red and burns after a few days
Neither the Congress government nor the BJP government has helped us in any way to stop this black water. Today, more than 200 types of land within Bherai village have become saline. In other villages too, thousands of bighas of land have been affected by salinity. Plants grow after sowing. After a few days it turns red and burns. Our land has not produced any crops for the past ten years. > Bhupendra Singh Sisodia, Farmer, Bherai

Since 2018, the case has been going on in the Special Environment Court
Since the year 1980, the people of Kalam Bandhi area have been fighting against the government for the last 25 years regarding the issue of black water. Thousands of bighas of land in 11 villages of Kalambandi area have become barren today. And the soil has become saline. Many agitations were done by the farmers but the results have not been found even today. Delhi Green Tribunal Court which is a Special Court of Environment Department against the Government of Gujarat within 2018 in my name. In which our black water case was filed. The case which is going on today.> Ajitsinh Bhurubha Vaghela, Bherai.

There was a significant increase in cancer cases in the villages
The chemical water of Kharikat canal is causing great damage to animals and humans and the cases of cancer are increasing day by day in the villages. Crop yields have also reduced. Chemical water dries up crops and burns them. Despite repeated written and verbal submissions by farmers to the government, no result is forthcoming.> Jashubhai Dabhi, farmer, Navagam.

Clear water comes after a 500 feet deep well
Today, the soil has to be watered twice with chemical water and the seeds are sown twice. Then once the crop is done, the situation has arisen. Farmers are selling lands today because there is no cultivation. Black water has spread to the bottom of so many lands that today even if we have to bore water for agriculture, even if we have to dig 500 feet deep, clean water comes.> Dilawar Singh Parmar, hero, farmer.

Samples will be taken after monsoon for salinity level report
A soil test has been taken in the villages of Kheda Taluka within the month of May. The result of which has not yet come. In the soil test, the amount of nutrients, nitrogen, organic carbon in the soil can be known. But the sample of the report of the amount of heavy metals and the amount of salinity in the soil with chemical water has to be taken separately. Which we will do after monsoon.> Dipakbhai Rabari, Agriculture Officer.

Nothing grows in the ground, now I make others work there
I have been farming for the last 20 years. This chemical water has made my soil saline. Today I have nothing growing in the ground. I spend Rs.20 thousand every year but nothing matures. I am forced to go to work in other’s fields to support the family.> Abhesingbhai Solanki, Farmer, Bherai.