Floating barriers can help clean water bodies: Expert

Gurvinder Singh

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, June 18

There is a need for making floating barriers at several points across rivers and canals to finish solid waste debris in the flowing and polluting water bodies of the state.

Col Jasjit Singh Gill, a founder member of ‘Let’s Clean Ludhiana Trust’, has come up with an idea to stop the spread and flow of floating debris in Sidhwan canal, near PAU-GADVASU gates, where the large amounts of solid waste gets trapped.

Speaking on the need for replicating the model and its installation along rivers and canals, he said, “Barriers are a simple method to stop the flow of solid waste, which is polluting rivers and canals in Punjab.”

This barrier was made at the Sidhwan Canal in 2015 to prevent the flow of solid waste further, he added. “Now, this waste is cleaned by the divers looking for coconuts, thermocol sheets and other things. But design of barriers can be improved for self-cleaning system. But barriers can be fitted with scoops and conveyor belt that can bring debris along sides from where it can be easily collected,” he added.

Col Gill claimed that it was the first such barrier in the country, which was made of used drums, wire, and other material after carrying out the research.

“The solid waste is being generated at different places in the city. Efforts can be made to keep a vigil in those areas where the waste is being dumped,” he said.