Chandil, Jan. 23: The increasing rise in pollution with a steady growth of industrialisation has taken its toll on the poor villagers of Chandil.

Lac cultivation was the means of livelihood to hundreds of people in the area. But after the construction of sponge iron units, the palash and other trees, where the lac insects are grown, have started dying because of the thick layer of coal dust emanating from the units.

Jharkhand produces about 10,000 to 12,000 tonnes of lac per year. There are about 12 sponge iron units in the area.

“Till the last two years, I used to earn more than Rs 5,000 by cultivating lac. But now, the palash trees are dying because of pollution and lac cultivation has come to a grinding halt,” said Jagri Devi, a villager.

According to scientists at Indian Lac Research Institute, Ranchi, Ajay Bhattacharya and M.L. Bhagat the production of lac has declined in Chandil. “Earlier, it was good. But recently pollution has taken its toll on the growth of the lac trees,” they said.

According to Ghanshyam, a local social activist, the declining trend is being seen for the past two years, after 12 sponge iron units were set up in the area.