Despite NGT intervention, Tung Dhab drain continues to pose health risks

Despite directions from the National Green Tribunal (NGT), the Amritsar Municipal Corporation continues to struggle with checking the discharge of effluents into the Tung Dhab drain. The infamous drain, which has become an example of administrative and political failure to check water pollution, continues to be a health hazard.

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The Tung Dhab drain was dug up in 1955 to prevent floods. Originating from Gurdaspur, it passes through the middle of Amritsar city and falls into Lahore’s Hudiara drain, which merges in Ravi.

Several NGOs, including the Amritsar Vikas Manch and Voice of Amritsar, have shared their disappointment at the failure of the district administration as well as the Municipal Corporation to stop the drainage of industrial effluents and other waste into the drain. Reportedly, more than 40 million litres per day (MLD) of sewage is still being openly released into the drain at various points.

The polluted water has led to heavy metals in the underground water rising to dangerously high levels and has adversely affected the air quality of the area. Massive urbanisation has also taken place around the drain during the past two decades. Numerous colonies, including Holy City, Ranjit Avenue, Defence Enclave and Gobind Avenue, have come up in the area.

Various studies conducted on the impact of the drain suggested that sulphur dioxide turns into sulphuric acid that erodes copper surfaces of ACs, refrigerators and circuits of electronic devices, leading to their malfunction within a few months.

Guru Nanak Dev University had carried out a detailed study and found dangerous levels of heavy metals in subsoil, crops, vegetables and aquifers, which resulted in the DNA alteration of those residing along the drain. Recently, Dilbir Singh Sogi, a researcher, had recommended setting up a Tung Dhab Pollution Monitoring Centre to address the issue. “An independent organisation should be set up to monitor the level of pollutants and the volume of flow and share this data with the public,” said Dr Sogi in his report.

He also cited that the installation of sewage treatment plants as a means of treating contamination in water was not an effective plan, as the continuous discharge of pollutants did not stop and the sewage and industrial waste in the drain were not being treated.

MP Gurjeet Aujla, while addressing the issue recently, said that a way must be found to ensure that the nearly 550 KLD (kilolitres per day) waste that was discharged by 170 dairies and other such units, which was routed through the drain, is treated.