Bentonite is a health hazard

Bentonite is absorptive and colloidal clay used especially as a sealing agent while doing bore piling. A mixer of bentonite and normal clay comes out as a result of boring on earth surfaces. It is advisable not to dispose of the mixer in storm water drains and also in public places. If it is disposed in the drain, the drain will get clogged /chocked. The poisonous part of the clay will be washed away by drain water to the rivers and may get percolated to ground as well. Finally, it will affect humans, plants and aquatic animals also. For disposal of the contaminated product some specific arrangements should be made.

A flyover construction is in progress near Dispur. Bore piling is in progress to make foundations of the flyover. In the meantime, lot of boring has been completed and foundations cast. Due to lockdown I could not visit the site since long. However, from my initial observation, it was found that some portion of clay was going down the drain near Dispur supermarket. This needs to be stopped forthwith, if the process is still in continuing along the road. I am sorry to state here that our public is not aware of the same. At least engineers involved in the job should take a call on this. The State administration must book the engineer concerned for gross negligence in this matter. How much more poison we need to consume? Finally, the lack of checks and balances are root cause of the ills!

Prafulla Dowarah,

Guwahati.