Villagers seek ban on dumping of waste in Ghaggar

The Ghaggar river, once considered the lifeline of Haryana and Punjab, is now battling severe pollution.

Decades ago, its water was used for drinking, farming and even bathing. Today, it carries only contaminated, chemical-laden water, releasing a foul smell and black foamy residue.

The polluted water of the Ghaggar has become a major health issue for those residing within a 10 km radius of its course. Villages in the Fatehabad and Sirsa districts, where the river flows for 169 km, are witnessing a rise in life-threatening diseases like cancer and hepatitis C.

The increasing cases of cancer in these areas are directly linked to the consumption of contaminated river water.

Sirsa MP Kumari Selja has raised concern about the pollution in the river, highlighting its direct impact on public health.

In a letter to the CM, she emphasised that people living along the banks are being forced to drink chemically contaminated underground water, leading to a rise in waterborne diseases and cancer cases. She demanded immediate government action to ensure clean drinking water supply and medical teams to assess the health of affected residents.

A 2024 government study confirmed dangerously high levels of lead, iron and aluminium in the river water, exceeding limits set by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). These toxic elements pose severe health risks to people living near the river. The CPCB, which monitors water quality at 18 locations in Punjab and nine in Haryana, had declared Ghaggar water unfit for drinking and bathing in 2023.

Many villagers and social organisations have been protesting for years to save the river.

Ramchandra, a block committee member from Chandpura, Fatehabad, stressed that the government must take urgent steps to restore the river. He called for a ban on chemical waste dumping and untreated sewage discharge. Additionally, he suggested that Ghaggar should be given the same legal status as the Ganga and Yamuna to ensure its protection.

Balwinder Singh, a resident of Sirsa, said that despite years of protests and political discussions, no strict action has been taken against industries and municipalities polluting the river. Until firm steps are taken, the people living along the Ghaggar would continue to suffer the devastating consequences of pollution, Balwinder added.