Amarinder orders testing of drinking water from canals
CHANDIGARH: Punjab chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh on Sunday ordered testing of canal-based drinking water being supplied to southern parts of the state to check any contamination triggered by the spill of molasses into the Beas river.
The chief minister issued instructions in this regard to the departments of water supply and sanitation, water resources, local government and Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB).
He asked these departments to constitute teams for testing of water to check contamination.
He also directed deputy commissioners of the districts concerned to closely monitor the water supply in the towns and villages, and to promptly address any problem. The DCs have been asked to coordinate with the water resources department to ensure cleaning of the water channels of dead fish, an official spokesperson said.
After the recent spill of molasses into the Beas river, the PPCB had directed the departments of water supply and sanitation and local government to close the inlet points for their water supply schemes to prevent contaminated water from flowing in from upstream Beas.
The spokesperson said the waterworks in Faridkot, Fazilka, Muktsar and Ferozepur districts had adequate storage to tide over this temporary problem.
FRESH WATER TO REACH CANAL TAIL ENDS IN 24 HOURS, SAYS SONI
Punjab environment minister OP Soni on Sunday announced that fresh water will reach tailends of different canals in the state in 24 hours.
He also asked people not to use water from these canals for drinking purpose for a few days.
After the recent spill of molasses into the Beas river from a sugar mill in Gurdaspur district, the irrigation department released 2,000 cusecs of water into the river. The spill led to death of a large number of fish in the river. Soni said the situation was closely monitored by the Punjab Pollution Control Board and the district administrations.
PPCB chairman Kahan Singh Pannu said according to the government’s instructions, the stocks of molasses in all sugar mills and liquor factories were being checked.