pollution III

Minister blames govt depts for pollution
Rajay Deep
Tribune News Service

Bathinda/Muktsar, June 28

“Public health department has been turning down our constant requests to look into the case of sewerage and industrial water of Budha Nallah polluting the canal water,” rued irrigation minister Janmeja Singh Sekhon here today.
Sekhon was here with SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal during his foundation stone laying spree in the district.
While talking to TNS, Sekhon expressed regret over the polluted water flowing in the canals, which caters to the Malwa.
He also flayed the pollution control board of the state for having callous attitude in the case.
Disclosing further, he said that CM Parkash Singh Badal had fixed a meeting where all departments concerned would be called to discuss the matter.
“It is the job of the public health department and pollution control board to keep a check over the guilty polluting the water, but despite our regular correspondence they aren’t ready to get out of deep-slumber,” he alleged.
Answering about seepage and water logging in Muktsar and its surroundings, he said that the CM was regularly in touch with the officials concerned.
Speaking about the reasons of the seepage, he said that the Rajasthan and Sirhind feeders were the main sources of seepage as at least 11,000 cusecs of water had been seeping underground, which could be enough for more than two districts.
To control the menace he said that both the canals needed to have a polythene base to stop seepage.
When asked about the completion of widening of minor canals and distributaries, whose foundation stone have been laid today, he said, “The work will be started after the paddy season. About the reason to lay the stone so early, only Sukhbir Badal can give the appropriate answer.”