Pingalwara shows the way

GS Paul

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, April 29

Keeping in view the water scarcity in several parts of the country, the All-India Pingalwara Society has not only initiated water conservation in all its branches but is also spreading awareness among the masses at the state level.

Special volunteers have been deputed in Amritsar and other parts of Punjab to sensitise the people against the wastage of water. Free literature is being distributed at various gurdwara stalls, including at the Golden Temple complex.

Bhagat Puran Singh, the founder of the Pingalwara, believed in the verse from Guru Granth Sahib ‘Pawan Guru Pani Pita, Mata Dharat Maht’ (air is guru, water is father and the Earth is mother.)

This belief is being propagated through the literature originally penned down by him in various parts of Punjab.

Dr Inderjit Kaur, head of Pingalwara Society, said that presently, 1,719 abandoned and helpless persons are being accommodated. All of them have individually been educated about saving water during their daily chores.

In another attempt, traditional earthen pots have been distributed in every ward instead of water coolers. These will save water and electricity.

Its Manawala branch, located outside the boundaries of the MC, has no arrangements for the disposal of sewage. Therefore, a sewage treatment plant has been set up and the water is recycled and used for watering lawns, agriculture and harvesting.

“We have started utilising the waste water of the RO system to clean floors, utensils or for washing clothes. Around 30 RO systems have been installed on our premises in Amritsar and we accumulate a good amount of water which otherwise went down the drain,” Dr Inderjit said.