Hazaribag: Around 60 goats have died after allegedly consuming water from a reservoir at Jordag village under Keredari block of Hazaribag district in the past five days. Contaminated water discharged from a Central Coalfields Ltd (CCL) mining site located in the neighbourhood has reportedly seeped into wells and other sources of water, the villagers alleged.A total of 12-13 goats are dying daily. Water samples have neither been tested nor preventive measures taken to stop further deaths, locals alleged.“While mining operations are projected a sign of development, our livestock, a key source of our livelihood, are the worst affected, a villager said.Demanded immediate relief and strict action against those responsible, villager Madhav Mahto said “Two goats of mine died after drinking water of the reservoir on Friday. Foam was coming out of their mouth. The animals would have fetched me around Rs 5,000 each.”MLA Roshan Lal Choudhary on Saturday directed district administrative and CCL authorities to conduct a probe into the matter.Speaking to TOI, Keredari block circle officer (CO) Ramratan Burnwal said, “I have asked officials of the animal husbandry department to send the carcasses of the goats for post-mortem examination. We will probe the water contamination allegation by the villagers too.”A CCL officer, on condition of anonymity, said, “There is no question of water poisoning from the discharge water. Post-mortem will reveal the truth.”
