Untreated sewage in drains plague Fazilka locals

Our Correspondent

Fazilka, June 18

A Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) team, led by chairman Prof Satwinder Singh Marwaha, visited the district to take stock of contaminated water flowing in Aspal seepage and other drains which terminate here.

A source said the team took samples from Awa sullage carrier at Awa village and from Aspal Extension drain, Karnikhera, Mumbeki, Kadar Baksh and Gharumi drains on Wednesday late evening.

Talking toThe Tribune, SS Dhaliwal, Executive Engineer, PPCB, Faridkot, said the board’s chairman had intended to visit the area to acquaint himself of the situation. The team took samples from three drains and a hand pump.

In September last year, all 25 samples taken by the PPCB from different resources in Fazilka villages had failed the quality test.

In the past, the district progressive farmers, led by Vikram Ahuja, had made several representations to the National Green Tribunal (NGT), PPCB, Drainage Department authorities and the district administration, highlighting the inflow of contaminated water in these drains.

They said the drains were running in full flow and carrying untreated sewage, which ultimately seeped down into the ground and got mixed with the subsoil water, rendering it unfit for irrigation and drinking purpose. As a result, the border area residents have been suffering from several deadly diseases.

The farmers said a foul smell emanated from the drains and even the BSF personnel were facing problems because of it.

Executive Engineer Dhaliwala said contaminated water of sewerage treatment plants (STPs) in Fazilka, Jalalabad, Malout and Arniwala was being thrown in the seepage drain, resulting in water pollution in the area. He said some of the municipal councils had been penalised for not maintaining the STPs according to the guidelines.

The farmers alleged the untreated sewage water of five districts was being thrown into the drains.

In response to a petition filed by Vikram Ahuja last year, the State Monitoring Committee of the NGT, led by chairman Justice Jasbir Singh (retd), had visited the district on January 6 and 7 in this regard. Subsequently, Justice Singh had directed officials of the department concerned that no untreated water should be allowed to flow into the drains. However, instead of improving, the situation has turned worst.

The NGT has fixed a deadline of March 31, 2021, to overcome the problem of polluted water in the district.