No Water, No Votes: Valsad Villages to Boycott Gujarat Elections

Valsad locals say they buy mineral water because Srisol allegedly contaminates their only source of drinking water.

Villagers protest against Srisol company for contaminating river water.

(Photo: The Quint)

Residents of two villages in Valsad district of Gujarat have put up banners to announce that they will be boycotting the Assembly elections in December. The residents allege that a company named Srisol is contaminating the waterbed in the area. The company is backed by the government, locals allege.

Locals say that since their only source of water is now unfit for consumption, they have to resort to buying mineral water bottles in order to get clean clean drinking water.

Very close to our village is a company named Srisol which disposes of contaminated water in our waterbed from where we get our drinking water. Villagers have to buy mineral water to survive.

Kevin Patel, Resident

The locals claim that no action has been taken despite having complained to government officials and meeting several BJP leaders over the issue.

The affected villages fall under the Valsad Assembly segment, a BJP stronghold. The protesting villagers are up in arms against the BJP’s Bharat Bhai Patel, the sitting MLA.

Four villages are badly affected due contaminated water. Residents from two villages are carrying out protests, while people from the remaining villages are expected to join the protest soon.

The HR of Srisol denied the allegations of contamination.

There are vested interests who want to run the industries as per their norms. The Sarpanch of the protesting villages along with police were shown the factory spot what they were complaining about water contamination. There is nothing like this.

HR Head, Srisol Company

Video Editor: Purnendu Pritam