Experts ready Rs 3.6-cr revival plan for Beas

Aman Sood

Tribune News Service

Patiala, July 11

To revive the ecology of the Beas river following leakage of molasses by a sugar mill, experts from the Departments of Forest and Wildlife Preservation, and Water Resources, the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) and World Wildlife Fund (WWF) have submitted an action plan report to the PPCB.

The action plan is to be implemented over a period of five years so that sustainable results can be achieved. As per the plan, Rs3.6 crore is needed to replenish the prey base by releasing fish seedlings into the river.

The Department of Forest and Wildlife Preservation will “create a buffer zone between the river and land, removing plastic and other waste matter”, in addition to map and record species of aquatic wildlife present in the river till the Harike downstream.

The report has earmarked a separate budget for each to be spent to replenish the river base and “special efforts to ensure gharial and dolphin survival”.

The report, a copy of which is with The Tribune, wants to replenish the prey base of birds and other animals by restocking 20,000-kg fish seedlings. “In five years, about Rs50 lakh will be spent on releasing fish seedlings at Rs250 per kg,” the report reads.

The experts also recommended conservation through planting trees and shrubs for healthy and stable river banks and better fish and wildlife habitat and to provide a buffer zone between river and land use. “In an area of 20 hectares, 1,000 plants per hectare will be planted in Ferozepur and Hoshiarpur wildlife areas from where the river passes through,” it states.

Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Wildlife Kuldip Kumar said, “The ecosystem of the river cannot be restored in a few months, considering the catastrophe that took place two months ago. Experts says it will take five years do undo the damage — fishes that were killed and birds that fled due to the molasses flow — caused by the leakage of molasses,” he said.

Kahan Singh Pannu, PPCB Chairman, told The Tribune the board would examine every recommendation made by the experts. “I have received the report and it will be forwarded to the government for action,” he said.

On May 17, a large number of fish were found dead in the Beas, following which Chadha Sugar Mill at Kiri Afghana in Gurdaspur district was sealed and fined Rs5 crore. The mill owners have deposited Rs1 crore.

Later, the state government had asked a committee of experts to recommend steps to revive the Beas.