Chandigarh, December 16
The Punjab government has worked out an extensive plan to clean up pollution from the Sutlej and Beas over the next two years.
Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal said a comprehensive strategy had been worked out to ensure that effluents and other pollutants discharged into the rivers across its course in Punjab were stopped immediately.
He said the state government would spend Rs 1,388 crore for the cleaning of the Sutlej (Rs 1076 crore), Beas (Rs 222 crore) and the Sirhind canal (Rs 90 crore. The work had already started and would be completed in the next two years, he added.
The CM said the government had taken up the issue with those who were polluting the waters and received an assurance from the Bhakra Beas Management Board, National Fertiliser, Punjab Alkali and Ropar Thermal Plant that they would immediately stop the discharge of untreated water into the Sirhind Canal. This canal would become cleaner before the two rivers.
The biggest cause for concern to the state government is the polluting industry of Ludhiana that was discharging wastes into the Sutlej. The biggest culprits were electroplating and dying units spread over five clusters.
Badal said a meeting was held with representative of these industries, who assured the government that they would comply with whatever directions the government passed in this regard.
Badal said out of Rs 1,388 crore to be spent in the state, a project worth Rs 676 crore had been approved and detailed project reports (DPR) were under preparation.
Before embarking on this cleaning drive, the government has involved the local government, Pollution Control Board and the industry. The cleaning would start from the start point of the Sirhind Canal and where the two rivers enter Punjab.
Three municipal towns along the canal, Nangal, Anandpur Sahib and Ropa have been allotted funds to the tune of Rs 21 crore, Rs 15 crore and Rs 54 crore, respectively, for laying down the sewerage and the installation of Sewerage Treatment Plants (STPs).
Badal said 14 cities were polluting the Sutlej. He said Rs 416 crore had been sanctioned for Ludhiana alone and adequate funds for other towns.
Referring to the action plan for the cleaning of the Beas, the CM said an action was being initiated in 11 cities causing pollution in the river
Talking about the status of Sri Guru Gobind Singh Oil Refinery at Bathinda, Badal said as per available schedule reports, the work was about six months ahead of the schedule and was likely to be completed by June 2011.
