'Severe pollution in Fazilka drains, Pak block worsening it'

Chandigarh: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has sought a “factual action-taken report” by August 25 on a petition claiming that there is “severe pollution” in drinking and ground water of Punjab’s southernmost border district, Fazilka.

The NGT has sought the replies from Fazilka deputy commissioner, Punjab Pollution Control Board, Punjab Water Supply and Sewerage Board, and the state department of local government.

The directions, dated July 26, have been issued on a petition filed by Fazilka-based progressive farmer Vikram Ahuja, who claimed that “severe contamination” of water was impacting environment and public health in 132 villages of the border district.

Ahuja claimed in the petition that 21 major drains were bringing black, polluted sewage from across Punjab to Fazilka. He stated that since the water was heavily contaminated, Pakistan had blocked it from entering its territory and this had led to large-scale accumulation of untreated water for decades now.

He cited Fazilka’s elevation above sea level, which is 177 meters, lower than Ludhiana (262 meters), Jalandhar (228 meters) and other neighbouring districts. In addition to the 21 drains, he said, “an uncounted number of sub-drains” were also polluting the border district. He pointed out that these drains were severely contaminated because sewage treatment plants were non-functional in Punjab or had not been set up at all. “This water has seeped into the ground (and polluted the water table). Water-borne diseases are wreaking havoc… Miscarriages among pregnant women and handicapped newborns have become common in this region due to highly contaminated water,” the petition said.

The petition stated that a moat called “defence ditch drain has been dug along the Pakistan border, but this remained filled with stagnant, polluted water, resulting in the seepage of contaminated water into the ground.

Ahuja said water was so severely contaminated that even reverse osmosis (RO) water-purifiers did not make it fit for drinking. Taking note of the contention, a tribunal bench headed by chairperson Adarsh Kumar Goel sought the report and made PPCB the nodal agency for furnishing the report. The matter will be heard on October 22.

F Coli 30 times over permissible limit

In his petition to National Green Tribunal, Fazilka-based progressive farm Vikram Ahuja attached the response of an RTI query to prove “severe pollution” in water bodies in Fazilka. “The permissible limit for ‘total dissolvable solids’ (TDS) in water is less than or equal to 500 mg/litre, and 230/100 mg/litre for Fecal coliform (F Coli). The presence of F Coli indicates it can cause diseases,” Ahuja said. At the confluence of Jalalabad Mauzam drain and Satluj river in Wallahshah Uttar village, the presence of TDS and F Coli was 3680mg/litre and 1700/100mg/litre. The presence of TDS and F Coli in the Old Fazilka drain near Noor Mohammad village, is 3317mg/l and 7000/100mg/litre. In the drain near Teja Ruhela village, TDS is 3342mg/l and F Coli is 2200/100mg/litre. Meanwhile, TDS is 3992mg/l and F Coli is 2800/100mg/litre in the drain near Ladhuka village. The replies were provided by the relevant departments of the state government.

PPCB, agri dept acknowledge it

In reply to the petitioner’s RTI plea, PPCB checked samples from many villages in Fazilka and said the water was unfit for consumption

Punjab agriculture department said the presence of heavy metals and pollutants was so high in the water that it was unfit for irrigation