Effluents biggest threat to rivers: Seechewal

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, December 9

Environmentalist Balbir Singh Seechewal on Sunday said the only solution to tackle the pollution of rivers is to stop the discharge of untreated pollutants – industrial as well as municipal – into the water bodies. He said this while talking to The Tribune.

Seechewal said on February 22, the case of discharge of untreated pollutants into the Sutlej and the Beas rivers will come up for further hearing by the National Green Tribunal (NGT).

In November, a fine of Rs 50 crore was imposed on the Punjab Government by the NGT bench that said that a huge damage had been caused to the environment, particularly the water bodies, as well as inhabitants. On “polluter pays principle”, the state was instructed to deposit a sum of Rs 50 crore with the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

The NGT had constituted a monitoring committee, with the CPCB as nodal agency and Seechewal as its member, apart from representatives from the PPCB, Rajasthan Pollution Control Board and the Urban Development Department of the state of Punjab.

Seechewal was in the city to attend the Short Film Fest at the Ishmeet Singh Music Institute. He invoked scriptures to encourage the people to protect air, water and earth and to lead a lifestyle that is in sync with nature. “Pawan guru, paani pita, maata dharat….”

For a healthy life, we need pure air, clean water and hygienic food, said the environmentalist. Unfortunately, all three are missing in the present times, he rued. However, on a positive note, the efforts to control stubble burning have yielded fruit, he said. “Around 95 percent farmers in our area did not burn stubble this time. It shows in the air quality. You can breathe somewhat easier,” he said.