Matigara, Aug. 8: The perpetual outbreak of enteric diseases, itchy skin eruptions and respiratory problems among people residing on the banks of Balasun river, stretching over a vast area in Matigara block, does not appear to be a mystery any longer.

Physicians have attributed the physiological disorders to untreated effluents of Prakash Distillery and Chemical Company Limited, located in Dagapur. The distillery, which dumps all its untreated by-products in the Balasun — a tributary of the Mahananda — has become an object of worry for environmentalists and wildlife activists.

“The water contaminated with effluents dumped by Prakash Distillery and Chemical Company Limited is causing a lot of health problems like liver damage, eczema and psoriasis,” said R. Bhattacharya, a professor of community medicine in North Bengal Medical College and Hospital.

“The poisonous water has caused more then 32 varieties of fish to disappear from the Mahananda. It has even taken a toll on migratory birds that come to the Fulbari canal area,” said Basudev Bhattacharya, an amateur ornithologist and wildlife activist from Fulbari.

Senior environment engineer of West Bengal Pollution Control Board Tapas Gupta said: “We have suspended production till the factory comes out with a proper Effluent Treatment Plant (ETP). Once installed, we will visit the factory before giving them a go-ahead to resume production.”

The chief administrative officer of the distillery, N.K. Dey, refused to comment when The Telegraph contacted him.