Warning against any laxity or leniency in the matter of leakage of molasses into Beas river, Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh on Wednesday directed the concerned agencies to vigorously pursue legal and penal action against the offenders.
Capt Amarinder, reviewing the progress of action taken so far by various government agencies, also sought a detailed report by Thursday from the Department of Environment on the inquiry initiated into the incident, which had damaged aquatic life and polluted the river waters as well as disturbed the canal-based water supply in the southern districts of Faridkot, Muktsar and Fazilka.
Chief Minister has directed the concerned officials to ensure that no leniency is shown against those responsible for the incident and stringent action is taken against them.
Capt Amarinder further instructed various agencies, probing the matter, to expedite their investigations so that responsibility for the act could be pinned and guilty could be brought to book at the earliest.
Punjab Pollution Control Board is scheduled to hold a formal hearing into the matter on May 24, said an official spokesperson, adding that prosecution had already been initiated by the Department of Wildlife for the loss of aquatic life.
Similarly, the Department of Water Resources had also initiated legal proceedings against the offender distillery under the Canal and Drainage Act.
Capt Amarinder also reviewed steps being taken to check quality of canal water being supplied in the affected areas. As per reports based on samples collected by PPCB at different places, the quality of raw canal water had almost normalized.
However, the Chief Minister has ordered immediate release of additional fresh water into the Beas to further stabilize the situation, said the spokesperson.
The Departments of Water Supply and Sanitation and local Government, which are responsible for water supply to villages and towns in the affected districts, are, meanwhile, continuing with regular testing of water quality, both in the water works and of the untreated raw canal water.
Spokesperson said that Deputy Commissioners are monitoring water supply operations closely, along with officials of the line departments, and situation was under control.
As a precautionary measure, the water supply agencies have also initiated cleaning of water works to preclude any possibility of contaminated treated water being supplied to the local population. The agencies would make interim arrangements, wherever necessary, through supply of free water from RO plants or through tankers during the period of cleaning of water works, the spokesperson added.