A team of markers led by local Union Parishad chairman Mubarak Munshi submitted a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner demanding immediate steps to remove the pollution by industrial waste.

The DC assured them all possible measures to improve the situation, official sources said.

Earlier, farmers in nearby Sabuj Prokalpa (an irrigation project) made repeated appeals to the BSCIC authorities and owners of industrial units but to no effect.

On may 18, at least 10 people were injured in a clash between farmers and industrial workers centring the pollution due to industrial waste. Police arrested two persons. There was no further action.

Sources said, the lands are gradually turning barren as toxic waste including Sodium Hydroxide and Sodium Silicate are flowing into the croplands. Besides, the waste from the industrial estate flows into canals and Titas river, destroying fish resources in water bodies.

The worst affected areas are North Shuhilpu, Nandanpur, Bedbaria, Hutiara, Chandiara, Malihata, Khatihata and Kuttapara villages under Sarail and Brahmanbaria Sadar upazilas.

BSCIC sources said 51 units are in operation and 16 more will be commissioned soon. There are 137 plots in the estate.

Locals alleged that the worst polluters are two medicine factories, two silicate industries, one chemical industry and three soap factories, which release harmful chemicals. These units are releasing toxic waters for over three years.

The farmers said they, along with local body leaders met the BSCIC authorities and industry owners several times in last two years.

Suruj Mia of Bedbaria village, Khayer of Chandiara and Farid of Bedbaria village said they are worried as their monocrop lands are losing fertility fast. The IRRI-Boro yield in the current season would be hardly 10 maunds per bigha. Paddy plants turn yellow due to toxicity in the water, they said.

To protect Sabuj Prakalpa lands from pollution, villagers built a temporary small dam at Bedbaria. But the polluted water overflowed it, they said.

They alleged that, rather than trying to control the flow of toxic water, the BSCIC authorities requested them to protect their lands by raising small dams.

The affected farmers last month held a meeting at Shuhilpur village with local Union Parishad chairman Mubarak Munshi in the chair to protest the pollution.

When contacted, BSCIC Estate Officer Md Muktadir admitted that none of the industrial units has any treatment plant. A nine-member committee of industry owners has been formed to explore ways to install treatment plants, he said without going into details.