Scientists: No major contamination in Beas

GS Paul

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, May 22

Putting an end to all speculations, scientists of Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (GADVASU), Ludhiana, have concluded that no major contamination has been found in the Beas riverwater sample and that the heavy casualty of aquatic life was due to acidic pH and low dissolved oxygen.

However, the post-mortem of fish could not be performed due to putrefied samples.

Several water, sediment and fish samples were collected by the state fisheries officials on May 17 between 9 am and 2 pm, after reports of tonnes of fish mortality surfaced following the spillage of molasses in the river due to the alleged negligence of Chadha Sugar Industries, Kiri Afgana.

The Central Equipment Laboratory College of Fisheries, GADVASU, submitted its report to Amritsar Deputy Commissioner KS Sangha on Tuesday. It has indicated that the samples collected by scientists at 7 pm the same day, revealed low dissolved oxygenand high biological oxygen. There was low pH (5.61), high ammonia nitrate and phosphorous content resulting in high organic load which could be the possible reason of high fish mortality.

University dean Balbir Singh Sandhu said the tests were conducted on critical water quality parameters and there was no major contamination in water, microbiological or pesticides residue. Similarly, no pesticide was detected in fish samples which were tested for 14 pesticides. Water and sediment samples were tested for 36 pesticides.

“Any sort of infection or disease did not appear to be the cause behind fish mortality as there were no pathological signs and bacteria,” he said.

Meanwhile, the university has issued an advisory for remedial measures. It has recommended regular monitoring of the river stretch every 10-15 km downstream as the dead fish should be removed at the earliest to avoid further damage to river ecology.

PPCB probe report submitted

• Chandigarh: The three-member probe panel formed by the government to look into the reasons for the molasses’ spill in the Beas on Tuesday submitted its report to Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) chairman KS Pannu. 
• The panel was headed by PPCB Chief Environmental Engineer GS Majithia. Pannu said the report would be discussed at a high-level meeting to be held in Chandigarh on Wednesday.  
• Official sources said the report had recommended raising the security deposit for Chadha Sugars and Industries in Kiri Afgana from Rs 25 lakh to Rs 1 crore, besides recovering the costs of releasing water in the Beas from the Pong and Ranjit Sagar dams to flush out the polluted water. 
• The report is also learnt to have indicated that the cause of the spill was a blast in the tank. It has reportedly indicated that as the molasses flowed in the Beas, it led to an exothermic reaction that killed the fish. 

Water samples clear: Muktsar DC

Muktsar: Deputy Commissioner Sumeet Jarangal along with officials of the Water Supply and Sanitation Department, Water Supply and Sewerage Board and the Pollution Control Board on Tuesday assessed the water situation in the district. The DC said the water situation in canals had returned to normal. “In the Malout division, 92 samples of water supplied from the waterworks were found to be 

normal in laboratory testing. The samples lifted from the waterworks in Malout town were also found fit in the analysis,” he claimed. He added that the supply of potable water was now being made as usual and there was no crisis of drinking water in the district. TNS

Quality improves in canals

Fazilka: With the release of fresh water, the quality has started improving in the non-perennial main branch canal in this border district. About 20 canals, distributaries and minors originate from the main branch canal which is the lifeline for farmers. At present, water is being released in two main canals, Jandwala and southern branch, from where it flows to their distributaries and minor canals to supply irrigation water to the cotton belt.  Due to the recent discharge of molasses in the Beas, contaminated water was flowing in the canals. Executive Engineer, Irrigation, DS Dhariwal claimed that after the release of fresh water from the Harike headworks, the water quality had improved by over 60 per cent. OC

AAP to move green tribunal

Chandigarh: The legislative wing of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Tuesday said it would take the issue of contamination and pollution of rivers, rivulets, canals and drains of Punjab with the National Green Tribunal, Delhi, on Wednesday. The Leader of the Opposition, Sukhpal Khaira, alleged that the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) had miserably failed to discharge its duty to protect environment and prevent pollution of rivers, primarily caused due to untreated industrial waste allowed to flow into the water bodies. Citing the latest release of molasses by Chadha Sugar Mill that led to the death of thousands of fish, Khaira said CM Capt Amarinder Singh had failed to act. TNS