PATIALA: In a momentous stride towards redressing civic grievances, the Punjab State Human Rights Commission (PSHRC), spearheaded by Chairperson Justice Sant Parkash, has successfully disposed of a complaint pertaining to water contamination in New Green Park Colony, Patiala.
The complaint, lodged on March 4, this year, by the residents of the colony, alleged that garbage dumping boxes positioned in close proximity to a tubewell by the Municipal Corporation (MC) of Patiala were contaminating the tubewell water, thereby compelling the residents to imbibe impure water.Despite apprising various authorities of the matter, the complainants alleged that no remedial measures were undertaken.
Taking swift cognizance of the matter, the Commission, on March 6, directed the Commissioner of the Municipal Corporation, Patiala to investigate and furnish a comprehensive report. The MC's report, submitted on May 13, was met with dissatisfaction from the complainants, necessitating further hearings. On September 12, both the complainant and Joint Commissioner, MC Patiala, appeared before the Commission that directed the Joint Commissioner to conduct a site visit accompanied by a pertinent team and devise a solution to the issue.
Pursuant to the Commission's directive, a health team visited the site, and a report dated October 9, 2024, was submitted. The report corroborated that the underground bins had been installed, and two sweepers were permanently deputed to maintain cleanliness. Moreover, the tubewell in question, situated 20 feet from the garbage dumping point, had been permanently decommissioned, ensuring no contamination.
The Municipal Corporation elucidated that the garbage bins were placed at a secondary collection point, where waste from nearby houses is segregated before being transported to a Materials Recovery Facility (MRF). The area is approximately 300 meters from the residential zone, and efforts such as planting trees have been undertaken to mitigate any potential environmental impact. Due to space constraints, it is not feasible to relocate the bins elsewhere.
During the proceedings, the complainants acknowledged that over 70% of the work had been satisfactorily completed by the Municipal Corporation. Taking into account the MC's report and the complainants' admission, the Commission concluded that most of the residents' grievances had been resolved, and no further action was warranted at this juncture.
However, the Commission directed the Joint Commissioner to conduct periodic inspections of the area to prevent future issues. The complainants were assured that they could approach the Commission again if the problem recurred.