Water contamination goes unchecked in Palampur

Ravinder Sood

Palampur, December 9

Despite mounting jaundice cases and other water-borne diseases, state health authorities and the Irrigation and Public Health (IPH) Department are yet to take precautionary steps.

No appropriate steps have been initiated to clean water sources, check overflow of sewage, contamination of water channels, dumping of garbage into rivers and streams in and around Palampur.

The Bhiral and Mol Khuds, the two major tributaries of the Beas passing through Palampur town, are the major sources of drinking water in the lower areas of Palampur. These have turned into garbage dumps. The IPH Department lifts water from the Bhiral Khud near Thural for its water supply schemes.

Hotels, restaurants and shops, situated on the banks of these water channels between Lohana and Kalu Di Hatti, have also been dumping waste here. Besides, there are a number of open toilets on the banks of these two water streams.

Labourers residing in jhuggis on the banks of Bhiral Khud near the Palampur-Dharamsala bypass have constructed over 20 open toilets and the waste is released into the water body.

The Health Department seems reluctant to take action against them. Official record reveals that not even a single person has been fined by the department for polluting water sources.

During a visit to the colonies on the banks of these two khuds on Tuesday, heaps of garbage, including polythene, animal carcasses, empty gunny bags and other waste material were found floating on the surface of the water bodies.