Despite minister’s promise, Kanjli wetland neglected
KAPURTHALA: The project of making Kanjli wetland into a tourist spot again, is yet to see the light of the day even though irrigation and power minister Rana Gurjit Singh had announced its restoration two months ago.
During his visit on July 24, the minister had shown concerns on the wetland’s pitiable condition and announced to make it a tourist hub within six months.
Gurjit had said, “The three kilometre long pathway along with the Kali Bein, from Gau Ghat to Kanjli wetland will be reconstructed beautifully and CCTV cameras will also be installed.”
He had also directed the irrigation and drainage department to clean the underwater vegetation in the Kali Bein within three months. But due to the government’ s negligence , the Kanjli wetland, once the pride of the city, has now turned into a haven for drug addicts as the place has remained isolated for years.
Dr Ambedkar mission society member Gurmukh Singh said, “Till 2004, it was a well-maintained picnic spot. Families used to come here for walks. But now, the place is covered with wild vegetation, bushes and plants. Even packets of cigarettes, tobacco and other banned substances can also be seen there.”
Spread over 183 hectares, the wetland has a religious importance as it is a part of the Kali Bein, a holy rivulet associated with Guru Nanak Dev. The wetland came into existence in 1870. The site also got recognition in 2012 under the Ramsar Convention, an international treaty for the conservation and utilisation of wetlands.
INCREASE IN
POLLUTION LEVEL Though, the minister had recently directed the officials to clean the rivulet, the water of Bein is still getting polluted due to non-functional sewage treatment plant (STP) in Kapurthala.
The STP was installed about a decade ago, with a capacity of treating 25 million litres discharge, per day.
However, for the past two years, the plant is discharging untreated domestic waste into Kali Bein.
Sources from the pollution board said, “The Kapurthala municipal council has failed to run the STP , citing fund shortage.” Owing to the increasing pollution in Bein, the number of migratory birds arriving to the place has also declined, said the sources.
This year in February, only five winter migratory water birds from Central Asia, North Asian region visited the Wetland
.The drainage department’s executive engineer Ajit Singh said that renovation work will be started at the Kanjali wetland very soon.
DC Mohammad Tayyab said that he has also sent a file to the state government for funds.