AAP to take pollution in rivers to green panel

After molasses spillover from a sugar mill caused the death of a large number of fish in the Beas river in Punjab, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) legislators have decided to approach the National Green Tribunal (NGT) seeking strict action against and remedial measures on contamination of river and canal waters.

“We have decided to take up the issue of dangerous contamination and pollution in the rivers, rivulets, canals and drains of Punjab with the National Green Tribunal. We have been forced to take this step as the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) had miserably failed to discharge its duty to protect the environment and pollution in the rivers of the State, primarily caused due to untreated industrial waste being allowed to flow into the rivulets and rivers,” said Leader of the Opposition Sukhpal Singh Khaira on Tuesday.

Mr. Khaira said a delegation of AAP legislators will meet NGT’s acting chairperson Justice Jawad Rahim on Wednesday to complain about the dangerous levels of contamination and pollution in the rivers and canals, endangering aquatic animals and human beings.

Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal claimed that the Union Environment Ministry has agreed to depute a Central team to assess the ecological damage caused by the release of industrial effluents into the Beas river. Mr. Badal said he has been informed that a Central team would make on-the-spot inquiry of the ecological disaster.