Punjab pollution board told to test samples of Beas, Sutlej waters

Ravi S Singh

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, May 24

The National Green Tribunal on Thursday directed the Punjab Pollution Control Board and the Central Pollution Control Board to test samples of waters of the Beas and Sutlej rivers and the Budda Nullah and submit report on each of them to it within six weeks.

AAP MLAs, including Leader of the Opposition in the Punjab Assembly Sukhpal Singh Khaira, had petitioned the tribunal on Wednesday alleging failure of the state government and its agencies to check discharge of pollutants like industrial and chemical wastes in the Beas and Sutlej endangering aquatic lives and human beings.

It directed the two boards to constitute a joint committee for collecting and testing the samples.

The plea of Punjab Pollution Control Board counsel for dismissal of the case on the grounds that the AAP was raking up the matter on political consideration, was turned down by the court.

The next date of hearing has been listed for July 17.