In Rajgarh district’s industrial area of Peelukhedi, tyre recycling factories are poisoning the air that rural communities breathe. Despite widespread complaints, local officials remain inactive, waiting for formal grievances instead of taking action.
The Ground Report team visited “Value Recyclers Reclaimers Private Limited”, one of several tyre recycling plants in the area. These factories burn old tyres to extract oil, wire, and other materials, releasing toxic smoke through chimneys that spreads wherever the wind blows.
More than four such factories operate in this region, severely affecting the health of nearby villagers and damaging their crops. Workers at these plants show visible signs of health deterioration, with blackened faces and breathing difficulties after just brief exposure to the toxic environment.
Suleman from Dhankhedi village, who has worked at a tyre factory for ten years, explains the process: “Operations start at 8 PM and run until 4 AM. We load about 7 tonnes of material into machines each time. During the day, we enter the machines to remove wires and other materials.”
Local residents face multiple health challenges. Santosh from Sanvas village reports that five tyre factories near his home produce smoke so toxic that breathing becomes difficult. “People fall sick, and our crops become barren,” he says.
Raju Verma from Gilakhedi village describes contaminated drainage water that livestock drink, causing animal illness. The industrial waste affects water sources, air quality, and soil fertility across the region.
Prahlad Solanki mentions that 6-7 tyre factories operate in his village alone, running primarily at night to hide their emissions. The toxic smoke blackens anyone passing nearby, and waste oil is directly dumped into drains.
Despite having an office in the area, Sub-Divisional Magistrate Sushil Kumar claims no complaints have been filed. However, villagers report that their concerns are consistently ignored through bureaucratic delays and empty promises.
The 29 factories in the Peelukhedi industrial area continue operating without proper oversight, slowly poisoning the environment while officials deflect responsibility.
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