No sewage system, polluted water poses threat to Ravi in Pathankot
PATHANKOT:Even as central government is busy saving Ganga and other rivers from pollution, the Ravi river and its tributaries in Pathankot are being polluted unchecked due to the gutter water and wastes released into its water by the residents of Sujanpur town.
The town is situated on the banks of the Upper Bari Doab Canal, a tributary of Ravi, and is devoid of sewerage system since its existence due to its congested localities.
The streets are as narrow as two feet in many parts of the town. The congested lanes have foiled authorities bid to lay sewage system in the locality, forcing locals to make their own sepneed
The residents usually hire private operators to empty these tanks. These people often discharge the gutter water in the nearby tributaries.
The residents settled near the tributaries too find it in it.
“The Upper Bari Doab Canal(UBDC) which moves towards Pathankot from Sujanpur is used for watering many fields besides meeting other needs of the local people. The is to develop a proper sewage system for the town,”said Rajesh Pushkarna, a Sujanpur resident.
The problem is very serious as it is an old establishment. The town is congested and densely populated. Laying down the sewage lines is a big challenge here. I will discuss the issue of emptying gutter water in the river by private agencies,” said Avinash Dogra, vice-president, Sujanpur Nagar Council.
Surinder Singh Kaler, SDO, irrigation and drainage department, said he will form a team to crack down on those polluting the river. “Throwing wastes and emptying gutter water in the river is a bad practice. This poses threat to both human and animals using the river water,” he said.