Despite claims, no let-up in waste flow into holy Bein : The Tribune India

Join Whatsapp Channel

Unholy treatment

Despite claims, no let-up in waste flow into holy Bein

SULTANPUR LODHI: Over a fortnight after 550th Gurpurb celebrations peaked at Sultanpur Lodhi, over 5 million litre per day (MLD) untreated water/sewage from various sources continues to pour into the Kali Bein at five key points.



Aparna Banerji

Tribune News Service

Sultanpur Lodhi, November 25

Over a fortnight after 550th Gurpurb celebrations peaked at Sultanpur Lodhi, over 5 million litre per day (MLD) untreated water/sewage from various sources continues to pour into the Kali Bein at five key points.

While the massively revamped and beautified city of Sultanpur Lodhi has been cleaned up, hopes of a cleaner Kali Bein (in which thousands of devotees took a dip on Gurpurb) eludes the town.

While the PPCB chairman says cleanliness of the Bein had been ensured and all points of pollution plugged on November 11 and 12, The Tribune correspondent saw a contrast picture.

Moreover, despite a notice by the SGPC, Ber Sahib Gurdwara continues to dump dirty water into the Bein.

Notable, there are five points where dirty water gets mixed with the Bein – the Kapurthala STP (which routes waste into the Wadala drain), Bhalane Dian Colonian (which carries treated water waste from the Rail Coach Factory and the untreated waters of the defunct Kapurthala STP), Sultanpur Lodhi STP and the rear side of the Ber Sahib Gurdwara from where a pipe dumps waste from the langar into the Bein. Besides, illegal water pipes in colonies along the Bein banks also pollute the Bein.

Eighteen years ago, a choked hyacinth-ridden Bein had been revived by environmentalist Balbir Singh Seechewal. Recently, he refused an award citing unclean Bein.

Satnam Singh, manager of Ber Sahib Gurdwara, said, “The pipe was routed there five to seven years ago for rice and pulses from the gurdwara langar so that fish could be fed. We will remove this very soon. Another new langar hall was recently built and all waste is now being shifted to the other side of the road away from the Bein.”

Tejinder Singh, sarpanch, Seechewal village, says, “We had thought the 550th Parkash Utsav would result in a cleaner Bein. However, 1-2 MLD of untreated water from the Sultanpur Lodhi STP is falling into the Kali Bein on a regular basis. While water gathered into sewage ponds is supposed to drain into fields for irrigation, much of it is being dumped into the Kali Bein.”

PPCB chairman Satwinder Singh Marwaha said, “I had visited the Bein on November 11 and 12 and all polluting points had been closed. Several notices have also been given and action has been taken against erring officials. I am not aware of the current situation.”

Harbir Singh, Senior Environmental Engineer, PPCB, said, “The Kapurthala STP is set for a Rs 2 crore upgrade which has been cleared today. Directions have also been issued to the sewerage board on the same. That is expected to be complete by March 2020. That will stop effluents from Kapurthala from flowing into the drain.”

Top News

Relief for Delhi CM, High Court bins plea for his ouster

Relief for Delhi CM, High Court bins plea for his ouster

Special court extends Kejriwal’s ED custody till April 1


Cities

View All