Villagers link surge in cancer cases to mushrooming of slaughterhouses in Nuh
As Mewat rapidly turns into a slaughterhouse hub of the National Capital Region (NCR), alarmed residents are blaming the mushrooming of meat processing units for a surge in cancer and other health ailments across villages in the region.
The panchayat of Khajli Kalan village in Punhana block has reported nine cancer-related deaths in just one year, attributing them to illegal dumping of slaughterhouse waste into water sources and open land. Villagers claim the units are polluting underground water and soil, severely impacting public health.
“There have been no cancer cases in our village for generations. Now, every second home has a patient. They’re burying the waste or discharging it into the groundwater. The foul smell has made life unbearable, especially for schoolchildren. We have written to the Health Ministry and the CM for urgent intervention,” said Shaukat Ali, a gram panchayat official.
The villagers have submitted a list of the deceased and filed a complaint, demanding an inquiry. So far, the response from local authorities has been indifferent, prompting them to escalate the matter to the Haryana Health Ministry and National Green Tribunal (NGT).
Residents from over 25 villages have joined the protest, launching a social media campaign under the hashtag #SayNoToSlaughterhouseinMewat, sharing visuals of animal waste dumped openly in fields, ponds and streams. Many villages have also reported a rise in skin infections, gastrointestinal issues and eye diseases.
Reacting to the public outcry, Health Minister Arti Singh Rao promised swift action and said: “We will immediately look into the health concerns of villagers. Special teams will inspect all affected areas and investigate the cause of illnesses, especially the reported spike in cancer. Pollution appears to be a major factor. We’ll take up the issue with both the state and Central environment ministries.”
According to local reports, eight slaughterhouses are currently operational in Nuh, with nearly 20 more under construction. The state government has reportedly approved a total of 50 units across the district.
Meanwhile, Congress MLAs have accused the government of converting Mewat into a “dumpyard” for slaughterhouses being forced to shut down in Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan.
“The Yogi government is shutting down slaughterhouses and many of those units are now being shifted to villages in Mewat. Where they are already operational, people are living in hellish conditions. The waste is contaminating soil, water and air. We are receiving numerous complaints about rising deaths. Still, the Pollution Control Department remains silent,” said Aftab Ahmed, Congress MLA from Nuh.
Mohammad Illiyas, MLA from Punhana, said: “Mewat is already a backward region. The government has neglected healthcare here for decades. Now it’s inflicting more suffering by turning villages into dumping grounds. People don’t even have money to visit doctors.”
Environment Minister Rao Narbir said an immediate inquiry would be launched and strict penalties imposed on units found violating waste disposal norms.
Haryana Tribune