Punjab: Schools of fish die in Kali Bein as sewage continues to flow into it

SULTANPUR LODHI: On the one side, the World Wide Fund (WWF) India announced a partnership with Danone India to enhance the ecological integrity of the historic Kali Bein rivulet, which also has Kanjhli wetland on its way, a Ramsar site.
On the other, thousands of fish died due to sewage flowing into the rivulet from some colonies near Rail Coach Factory, Kapurthala. This alarming situation for the aquatic life in the rivulet also coincides with Punjab government’s publicity of undertaking ‘channelisation’ of historic rivulet Kali Bein at a cost of Rs 26.09 crore.
While dirty water continues to be thrown into the rivulet, flow of fresh water was stopped over a month ago from Mukerian hydel channel due to repair works.
The flow of water into the rivulet was completely stopped due to some repair work in the Mukerian hydel channel from third week of March. The situation had started deteriorating since then but it exacerbated four-five days ago and fish started dying due to lack of oxygen in water.
On Wednesday, Punjab Pollution Control Board executive engineer visited the Bein and also wrote to senior executive engineer to immediately release water into the Bein from Mukerian hydel channel, following which 50cusec water has been released.
“Had sewage from colonies near Rail Coach Factory been stopped the situation would not have deteriorated like this even as no fresh water was flowing into it. It is the flow of dirty water that is real threat to aquatic life,” said Environmentalist Baba Balbir Singh Seechewal on Friday. He and his volunteers made desperate efforts, including pumping water from tubewells into the rivulet. The rain and lowering of temperature for the last two days have also provided some temporary relief.It is not the first time that the rivulet, associated with the history of first Sikh master Guru Nanak, which has also become a model of rejuvenation with volunteer efforts, has faced such situation.