Polluted Sutlej water poses threat to life, crops
Due to contamination of Sutlej waters with industrial pollutants from Ludhiana and sewerage from several cities, people in four southern districts of Punjab and the adjoining Rajasthan are facing not only serious health hazard but also stand to lose fertile soil to the accumulation of industrial chemicals in the soil.
Untreated industrial waste and sewerage from Ludhiana are discharged into the Sutlej which is carried to Harike barrage where it muddles clean water from Beas. From here the Sirhind feeder canal carries the polluted water to Ferozepore, Faridkot and Muktsar districts and some minor canals supply this water to numerous households in Moga. The Rajasthan feeder canal carries the same water to the adjoining state.
With underground water in most parts of these four districts already declared unfit for consumption or irrigation due to high salt content, the feeder canal is the only source of water for drinking and irrigation. However, at Harike stench and colour of the water make one wonder if the water is really fit for human consumption or irrigation.
Last year when the matter was taken up in the state's Assembly, then Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh had ordered that water treatment plants be made mandatory in all industrial units in Ludhiana in two months. However, till date majority of units continue to release the chemical waste directly into Sutlej.
The contaminated water is causing serious health problems for many in the four districts, which at times go unreported. This water when used for irrigation results in the accumulation of chemicals in the soil which affects not only crop yield but also has far reaching consequences on the fertility of the soil.
Though senior officials in the state Irrigation and Agriculture Departments are aware of this problem but they expressed helplessness in doing anything in this regard. The problem however, is assuming alarming proportions with each passing day. Senior officials in the Punjab Pollution Control Board choose to deny the fact that the water was contaminated. However, gloomy apprehensions have started causing scare among farmers. Many feared if the problem was not checked at the earliest it might affect thousands of acres in the state.
Mr Jaswinder Singh of Ghall Khurd village, who has to use the feeder canal water to irrigate fields told the Tribune that he was noticing 10 per cent to 15 per cent fall in yield of the crop every year. He said this was because of chemicals that come in polluted water.
Rajbir Singh, another farmer from Holan Wali village said recently he got his soil tested and was shocked when experts warned him against the use of contaminated water which might leave his land completely baren in years to come. But if I do not use the feeder canal water what am I supposed to do, "lamented Rajbir.
Even environmentalists have expressed concern at the use of impure water. Contamination of water has also affected aquatic life as dead fish can be spotted in the water, supplied to people without any treatment to make it fit for use.
Sources in the Pollution Control Board on condition of anonymity confided that in the name of checking contamination, more water was released into the feeders after which the water appears to be cleaner, but virtually nothing is done in this regard.
Source: Tribuneindia.com
