Save Satluj campaign makes waves in city

Ludhiana: Braving the blazing weather, people from various cities gathered along the Satluj banks on Sunday to spread awareness among villagers about pollution of water bodies. They underlined that the Satluj should be saved, especially when the groundwater level was depleting at a fast pace.
They reasoned that if the groundwater level goes down, river water could be supplied for drinking purpose. It is already being used for irrigation and drinking in many villages in the Malwa region and up to Rajasthan. The activists started a march from Kasabad, where Satluj river water is clear. After a small stretch, black fluids from Bhattian sewerage treatment plant get mixed in its waters. Members from various NGOs from Moga, Faridkot, Ferozepur, Patiala, Chandigarh and Amritsar participated in the march.
Due to heat, one of the participants fainted near Kasabad bridge and others helped him regain consciousness. Chairman of Bhai Ghanyia Cancer Roko Society from Faridkot, who had gathered members of various organizations, said their aim was to make people realize that groundwater was depleting fast and industries and domestic waste were polluting the water bodies. After this march, they would hold a few seminars and if required also a protest, he added.
He said if defilement of resources continued, young generations would not get water and Punjab would suffer like Rajasthan.
President of RBS Roots Amandeep Bains said untreated water from the treatment plants and other places was being thrown into Buddha Nullah, which meets the Satluj and the entire resource gets polluted. He said it was time authorities woke up and took action.
The activists walked up to Gaunspur and Mainewal villages, where residents getting polluted water are suffering from various ailments. The residents told the NGO members they were ready for any type of protest to get rid of pollution else their coming generations would suffer. Sarpanch of Gaunspur Sukhdev Singh said Buddha Nullah water, which is getting mixed with the Satluj’s near their village, had ruined lives of people in other hamlets too. “Children are complaining of skin diseases, teeth problems and grey hair. We have handed over a memorandum to the NGO members to be forwarded to CM Captain Amarinder Singh for a solution to the problem,” he added.
Municipal corporation superintending engineer, operation and maintenance cell, Rajinder Singh said, “The plan to upgrade the existing sewerage treatment plants is at advanced stage and there will definitely be a solution soon. Besides, the water coming from Bhattian STP is treated before being released into the river.”