Silvester D'Souza 

Daijiworld Media Network - Byndoor (MS) 

Byndoor, Jul 4: The litter from the Ashrad Poultry Farm, which is situated at Navunda Kudrukodu of the taluk, has turned into a liquid state and is flowing everywhere along with the rain water and has entered the public pond of water which is situated nearby. In addition, the foul smell from the rotten waste of the farm has filled the air and whole environment of the village is polluted. Water from more than 25 wells of the village is polluted with the litter and is not potable anymore. 

This poultry farm that is spread over an area of six acres belongs to a person called Ibrahim from Bhatkal. This farm is a huge one with a capacity of rearing 39,000 egg laying chickens. Due to the irresponsible maintenance of the poultry farm, the present situation is created. As the waste of four to six huge units is not removed on time, the same is getting flowed with rain water. The waste is getting flown into the drain that is behind the house of Narayana Poojary, a local resident. One kilometer area around the farm is emanating foul smell. There is a scare of epidemic to the residents of the locality. The locals have brought this to the notice of the concerned. 

Health department officials have checked the water of the nearby wells and have advised the residents not to drink water without boiling. Zilla panchayat member Gauri has taken up this issue in KDP meeting and has urged the administration to close down the poultry farm. The local gram panchayat has served notice to the poultry farm, after obtaining the reports, from health and animal husbandry departments. But the poultry farm owner is not paying any heed to the notice of gram panchayat. 

MLA B M Sukumar Shetty has visited the spot and assessed the situation. He has informed the officials of the Pollution Control Board to visit the spot and take suitable action. The villagers, who gathered during the visit of the MLA, urged the poultry farm to be closed. 

Zilla panchayat member Gauri Devadiga, president of gram panchayat N Narasimha Devadiga, member of taluk panchayat Pushparaj Shetty, gram panchayat member Jayanti and BJP leader Deepak Kumar Shetty were present.