Kapurthala, August 16
A day ahead of the President, Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam’s visit to Sultanpur Lodhi, Baba Balbir Singh Seechewal, the man behind the cleansing of the Kali Bein, said treated sewage water should be used for irrigating organic farms.
The Baba is against the throwing of sewage into the Bein and rivers even after treating them with the help of the Sewerage Treatment Plants (STPs). He said if treated water was not fit for drinking, how it could be allowed to be thrown into the Bein and the rivers?
Baba Seechewal had reportedly opposed a project report prepared by the Sewerage Department that had proposed to discharge sewage water of Sultanpur Lodhi into the Beas.
The Sewerage Department had proposed to install a 16-km long pipeline costing Rs three crore to take sewage water of Sultanpur Lodhi into the Beas.
Interestingly, he himself presented an example of using treated water for irrigation. The kar sewaks laid about eight-km long pipelines under his guidance between Sultanpur Lodhi and Bhagoraian to take treated water from a STP to the fields for irrigating several acres of
land.
Seechewal said no artificial fertiliser and pesticide was used for growing paddy in these fields and the quality of paddy grown in there was excellent.
Agriculture scientists may closely study this form of organic farming, expecting to use it in other parts, to not only dispose sewage but also get rid of the ill-effects of pesticides and artificial fertilisers.
Meanwhile, a festive atmosphere prevailed today at Nirmal Kuteya on the banks of the Kali Bein in Sultanpur Lodhi, as hundreds of followers of the Baba, locals and even NRIS gathered there. They were enthusiastic about the proposed visit of the President.
A langar was also arranged for the sangat from the nearby villages.
But, an ugly scene cropped up after security personnel stopped some villagers from taking langar to Nirmal Kuteya. However, the matter was resolved with the intervention of Baba Seechewal.
