Chandigarh, February 15: Polluted River is affecting ecology inside and outside its banks. Ecosystem balance is always a priority issue raised by the nature-loving people. Punjab government has decided to wipe out all the pollutants and make Beas and Sutlej clean and clear pollution free rivers.
Punjab government presents ‘comprehensive action plan’ to check pollution in the Beas and Sutlej, besides steps to restore the water quality of rivers in the state. The state government will also take up the issue with the Centre. Said, Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh.
Amarinder said he had already constituted a committee under the chairmanship of the chief secretary, with the administrative secretaries concerned as members for regular monitoring of the measures to control pollution, of the river waters. He assured the House that the government would make all-out efforts to check pollution in these water bodies.
11 sewage treatment plants (STPs) have been installed in 19 towns, and 12 new STPs will be installed in 10 towns by December 2020. Treatment ponds will be constructed in 125 villages by June next year, and 350 cusecs of water will be released from Mukerian hydel channel into the holy Bein, he said.
The state has received 348 investment proposals worth ₹35,480 crore of a total of 817 MoUs worth ₹66,802 crore signed so far Industries minister Sham Sunder Arora.
On May 17, 2018, a countless number of fishes and other aquatic animals were found dead in Beas river due to a release of molasses from a sugar mill situated on its shore at Kiri Afgana village in Gurdaspur district. Locals have noted that the river colour has changed to rust brown and dead fishes were floating in the river. Punjab Pollution Control Board have ordered the closure of the factory and an enquiry has been initiated. Besides sealing, the sugar mill has been charged a fine of Rs. 25 lakh for this negligence.
Sutlej is the longest of the five rivers that flow through the historic crossroads region of Punjab in northern India and Pakistan