Environmentalist Seechewal urged to lead cleaning of Tung Dhab drain
Rajya Sabha member Balbir Singh Seechewal visited the Tung Dhab drain and claimed that much of the pollution in the drain, around 74 per cent, is caused by dairy waste, while the remaining 26 per cent comes from untreated water from local residential colonies and industrial discharge. Targeting dairy owners, Seechewal said, “Those who keep cattle and sell their milk must also take responsibility for managing the waste properly.” He told administration officials that dairy owners should first be educated and then held strictly accountable for any waste released into the drain.
Seechewal stated that he was in Amritsar at the invitation of Punjab Cabinet Minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal and Pollution Control Board Chairman Adarsh Pal Vig to address the issue of pollution in the Tung Dhab drain. Prior to the meeting, he held discussions with officials to get an understanding of the drain’s condition and said he was now working towards developing a strategy to address it. Seechewal also called upon municipal authorities to ensure that colonies treat their waste water before releasing it into the drain. After surveying the site, a comprehensive action plan would be drawn up and implemented, he said.
Earlier, speaking at a meeting held at the DC Complex in Amritsar, Seechewal said that ensuring clean air, water and soil is a shared responsibility. He laid stress upon the importance of involving not just government departments but also the general public in the cleaning operation and preservation of water bodies like the Tung Dhab drain. “These are the basic elements of life, and it’s unfortunate that we’ve long ignored their importance. Over time, rivers have been treated like dumping grounds, the air has been poisoned and the soil degraded, while society remained silent.”
Dhaliwal said whether it was the revival of the Kali Bein or Buddha Nullah, Seechewal had shown through action what was possible, what could be done with firm determination. He urged Seechewal to lead the efforts for cleaning the Tung Dhab drain as well, to help purify the environment around the holy city of Amritsar.
