Sundernagar, February 8
Truck-loads of industrial waste (muck) from the 126 MW Larji Hydel Project are being emptied into the Beas due to which the river is getting polluted. It is also posing a danger to other hydel projects and aquatic life. At places where the industrial waste has been dumped on the banks, it has started seeping into the river.
According to the Himachal Pradesh State Electricity (HPSEB), Board if all goes well the power project will start functioning by the end of this year or by the middle of next year. The cost of this project is Rs 950 crore and thousands of residents are getting direct or indirect employment. The HPSEB has given the work to two construction companies, Satyam Constructions and Continental Constructions. Project work is spread in a stretch of about 5 km — from Bagi Tar, where the diversion barrage is being constructed, to Dwada, where the power house work is going on.
Many residents of Thlot, situated on National Highway 21 on the Mandi-Manali Road (38 km from Mandi towards Kulu), told this correspondent that the project authorities used to throw the muck either on the banks of the river or directly into the Beas. Later on, when the residents raised a hue and cry two dumping sites were created, one at Sala Nala and the other at Shili Largi. But even then a large number of trucks can be spotted throwing muck into the river.
According to a source at the project site, more than 350 truck-loads of muck is transported out of the project and thrown elsewhere. The debris is thrown on the bank of the river or into the Beas at certain places. Due to this excess muck the river is changing course at certain places. The dirty water coming out of various tunnels flows directly into the river.
According to a truck driver engaged in this job, the dumping site at Sala Nalla is full. Even prior to this the sites were 5 to 6 km away and the drivers ordinarily used to throw the muck into the river as no strict check was kept.
Due to the throwing of muck into the Beas the water has been polluted. One can see dirty water being thrown into the river without any treatment.
When questioned the Chief Engineer of the project, Mr B.K. Mahajan, denied the allegation and said the board had allotted dumping sites at Sala Nalla and Shili Larji and that the muck was thrown at these sites. “If any truck is noticed throwing muck into the river penalty is imposed on the construction company. The project authorities detected this type of lapse in the past and penalised the guilty persons, he added.
Mr B.K. Thakur, Deputy General manager of Continental Construction, said when they were allotted work, muck was already stacked by the side of the Beas by the earlier construction companies. “This happens when there is mechanical failure of the truck”. He said the company had deployed a traffic in charge for patrolling the area and “if any one spotted for such type of lapse, the driver is issued a warning. If he repeats it he is subjected to penal action”. He said the muck is thrown at the dumping site only.
Satyam Construction Company also made the same claims. (This picture of the truck throwing muck was taken on January 25 at about 5 p.m., just outside the tunnel where the main office of Continental Construction is situated.)
The authorities are giving different explanations but the fact remains that the trucks can be seen throwing muck into the river.
