Rajya Sabha Member and noted environmentalist Sant Balbir Singh Seechewal today emphasized that all departments must adopt a concrete policy with mutual coordination to make the Kala Sanghian and Jamsher drains pollution-free. Chairing a review meeting regarding the ongoing efforts to make the drains free from pollution, Rajya Sabha Member Sant Seechewal directed officials of the Municipal Corporation Jalandhar, Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) and Sewerage Board to work in better coordination to stop the direct discharge of waste into the drains so that these natural resources could be freed from pollution and the flow of clean water in them could be ensured.
Deputy Commissioner Varjeet Walia and Municipal Corporation Commissioner Sandeep Rishi were also present on the occasion. Sant Seechewal said that tampering with natural resources would not be tolerated at any cost. He directed the officials to initiate strict action as per rules against those found responsible for polluting the drains.
He also reviewed the regular checking and sampling of STPs being conducted by the Punjab Pollution Control Board. He instructed officials to closely monitor the functioning of sewage treatment plants and ensure full compliance with environmental norms during their operation.
The Rajya Sabha Member also reviewed the release of clean water into the Kala Sanghian drain and asked officials to ensure that the water flow, which had been stopped due to construction work, be restored at the earliest. During the visit, he also inspected the CBG plant at Jamsher and the bio-mining project at Wariana.
He directed the Municipal Corporation Jalandhar to supply water as per guidelines because excessive water supply could hamper the functioning of STPs and drains.Reiterating the commitment of the Punjab Government led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann towards proper conservation of natural resources, the Rajya Sabha Member said that people should also be made aware on a large scale so that proper preservation of this natural wealth could be ensured with public cooperation.
Sant Seechewal also stressed the need for cleaning the drains and Chitti Bein, besides removing silt from beneath the Giddarpindi railway bridge before the rainy season. He directed the officials to complete these works on a priority basis. He also instructed officials to raise the banks of the drain near the National Highway at Kalia Colony till a permanent solution to the culvert issue is found, so that residents do not face water drainage problems during the rainy season.
Deputy Commissioner Varjeet Walia assured that the district administration would leave no stone unturned to make the drains completely pollution-free. He said that along with strict monitoring, stern action would also be ensured against those responsible for polluting natural resources.
He directed departments to adopt a coordinated approach to prevent pollution in drains and warned that any laxity in this work would not be tolerated. The Municipal Corporation Commissioner informed that the disposal work of 8 lakh metric tonnes of garbage at Wariana was underway and additional machinery would soon be deployed to double the pace of the work.
Additional Deputy Commissioner (Rural Development) Divya P., all SDMs, and officials from the Drainage Department, Punjab Pollution Control Board, Sewerage Board and various other departments were present during the meeting.