Beas incident leaves residents worried over canal water supply project

AMRITSAR: Local Government Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu has announced that the supply of potable water through canal is under process, but residents are worried about the water quality as tonnes of fish have been found dead in Beas recently due to “poisonous” chemical getting mixed in the water body.

Charanjit Singh Teja

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, May 20

Local Government Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu has announced that the supply of potable water through canal is under process, but residents are worried about the water quality as tonnes of fish have been found dead in Beas recently due to “poisonous” chemical getting mixed in the water body.

Experts have been advocating for introducing canal-based drinking water supply after getting an alarming feedback about bad quality of water in the city. The government will provide the treated water under the project.

According to the government’s plan, the surface water scheme will replace the existing groundwater supply, thus addressing a serious concern related to the depletion of groundwater and increase in cases of vector-borne diseases.

Sidhu on Saturday said in-principle approval had been accorded to the canal-based water supply project costing Rs 3,500 crore for Amritsar, Ludhiana and Patiala to check the rapid decline and deterioration of groundwater. As per the plan, the city would get water supply from Beas and Upper Bari Doab Canal (UBDC). The government has to protect the 40-kilometre long canal stretch and install the treatment plant for safe and clean drinking water.

Sandeep Singh, a resident, said, “There are reports that groundwater is not safe for drinking so we are welcoming the government’s project of canal-based water. But a large number of industrial towns are located on the banks of rivers. Industrial wastes have been polluting the river water. The supply of canal water for potable water needs foolproof surveillance. Tonnes of fish have died due to the negligence of one mill. How the government can assure clean and safe water to the residents under such circumstances?”

Manpreet Singh Bhatti, Environment Engineer, Guru Nanak Dev University (GNDU), said, “The government has proposed to get water supply from the UBDC. I have visited the entire stretch as a part of the inspection team. The water of the UBDC is clean and government will provide it after treatment. Dumping of industrial waste in rivers is a major issue and the government should keep a check on the practice and take precautionary measures.”