Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on Saturday directed the Deputy Commissioners concerned of Kapurthala, Jalandhar and Hoshiarpur districts to expedite the ongoing development works under the Kali Bain ecology restoration plan for effectively tackling the menace of water pollution in the river.
Badal gave the directions during a meeting with Sant Balbir Singh Seechewal, an internationally acclaimed environmentalist, who had been actively involved in the cleansing of Kali Bain through Karsewa for the past many years and won several accolades both at national as well as international level. The CM approved a plan of Rs 2 crore for the construction of seven foot bridges over the holy Kali Bain, besides digging of ponds in 41 villages of Kapurthala and Hoshiarpur to ensure that not even a signal drop of dirty water from the villages and colonies developed along the banks be discharged in the holy Bein. The land for these village ponds where the waste water would be collected for further treatment had already been identified.
Badal also directed senior officers of the Punjab Pollution Control Board to personally inspect various critical sites along with the Kali Bain and ensure its sanctity. Baba Seechewal appreciated the efforts in checking land, water and air pollution. Badal assured that the State Government would extend fulsome support and cooperation to his great mission. The Chief Minister also directed the chairman, Punjab State Power Corporation to allot motor connections as per the requirement of Baba Seechewal.
It was also informed in the meeting that the Water Treatment Plants (STPs) at Dasuya, Bhulath, Sultanpur lodhi and Kapurthala had already been made functional, whereas the Begowal, Tanda and Kala Sangha STPs would be completed by the end of this March. Baba Seechewal also demanded for a regular canal water discharge in to the Bain to keep water moving.