Sangrur: Labs say brackish water fit for farming, villagers disagree

Tribune News Service

Sangrur, July 19

Days after a video of coloured water coming out of a tubewell in Aloarkh village of the district went viral, residents have decided to approach the higher state authorities for getting a test conducted again.

Need proper testing

It’s surprising that reports of the district agriculture department and PAU indicate the water is fit for agriculture. We will take up the matter with higher authorities for proper testing. - Dinesh Bansal, AAP Leader

Though samples were collected after the video surfaced, PAU, Ludhiana, and the district agriculture department pronounced that the water was fit for agriculture purposes, causing anger among villages.

“The water is brackish. A chemical industry, which was closed around 15 years ago, polluted the groundwater. It’s surprising that reports of the district agriculture department and PAU indicate the water is fit for agriculture. Many area residents have approached me for help and we will take up the matter with higher authorities for proper testing,” said Dinesh Bansal, AAP leader who had contested the last Assembly election from the Sangrur constituency.

Some senior officials of the state Agriculture Department said coloured water had been coming out from four tubewells of Aloarkh village. They said samples had been collected and sent to laboratory for testing. “Villagers are in panic. I don’t know how the reports of both laboratories say the water is fit for agriculture,” said Gurdev Singh, BKU Ugrahan leader from the village.

Jaswinderpal Singh Grewal, chief agriculture officer, said if residents had any doubt regarding testing, they could visit him any time. “Lab tests indicate the coloured water from Aloarkh village is fit for agriculture purposes,” said Grewal.

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