Amritsar (Samaj Weekly)- Residents of Holy City, Swiss City, Guru Amar Dass Avenue, Gumtala village in association with Amritsar Vikas Manch gathered at the Tung Dhab Drain to highlight ill effects of pollution (Air & Water) caused due to rampant and blatant release of sewerage as well as other pollutants into the drain. Over the years, this storm water drain passing through outskirts of the city has become just a sewerage discharge nullah carrying million liters of waste sewage & unchecked effluents.
To add woes to multiple health hazards and alarming levels of pollution, despite National Green Tribunal orders, civic body Municipal Corporation Amritsar (MCA), continues to flout all norms of Water Act as well as Central Pollution Control Board norms by releasing sewerage directly into the drain. In its recent reply to the National Green Tribunal (NGT), which had listed the case for addressing pollution issue, the MCA had stated in writing that they will plug all the municipal sewerage release points and will not release any sewerage into Tung Dhab Drain by 31st March, 2021 but nothing has materialized so far.
Kailash Bansal, a representative of the Holy City residents said that the drain which passes through the outer area of Holy City, Guru Amar Dass Avenue and Swiss City was a seasonal rain water drain earlier but now the mixing of industrial effluents and sewerage, has turned this drain into a toxic drain.
He said the toxic gases being produced from the drain is causing acute and chronic diseases among the residents of the area. He also said that, the toxic wastes, which are getting dissolved in the ground is causing ground water pollution. Despite regular complaints to the MCA, there has been no action taken. Sulphur Dioxide which is released due to Sewerage turns into sulphuric acid that erodes the copper surfaces of air conditioners, refrigerators and circuits of electronic devices leading to quick malfunction within few months. Children and elderly are suffering the most due to various breathing, skin, eye sensation and allergic problems due to polluted air and dangerous fumes.
Dr. Charanjit Singh Gumtala Patron Amritsar Vikas Manch (AVM), who has his roots in Gumtala village said that despite hundreds of crores that have been spent on underground sewage project funded by JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency), the municipal corporation continues to flout the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 as well as recent National Green Tribunal order that clearly directs them to immediately stop release of all forms of sewage into storm water drains.
Gumtala further added, Member of Parliament Amritsar through questioning in Lok Sabha had categorically raised the issue of ill effects and health hazards being caused by this pollution however the local body and administration is yet to wake up from deep sleep to fix the issue.
Daljit Singh Kohli, Patron AVM stated, it is surprising that despite NGT orders and meeting of taskforce headed by Member of Parliament for Amritsar S. Gurjit Singh Aujla, this issue still has not been addressed. More than 40 million litres per day (MLD) municipal waste, sewerage is still being openly released from Batala Road (12 MLD) and Majitha Road (18 MLD) sewerage disposal points directly into the drain.
AVM Secretary Yogesh Kamra, a resident of Holy City said that Guru Nanak Dev University had done detailed studies and found dangerous levels of heavy metals in the sub soil, crops, vegetables and in the underground water of aquifers which has resulted in DNA alteration of residents of few villages that have been consuming underground water alongside this drain. The polluted water has caused dangerous levels of heavy metals absorption into ground water and has adversely affected the air quality of up to 3-5 kms of area around the drain.
The Global Convener of FlyAmritsar Initiative and Secretary Overseas Affairs for AVM, Sameep Singh Gumtala said that lakhs of visitors arriving or departing from Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport Amritsar travel through foul smell and poor air quality at the Amritsar Bypass Road which has turned to be an eyesore due to pollution in the drain.
He further added, “Tourists cannot roll down windows due to foul smell emanating from this polluted drain and this kind of welcome to tourists and pilgrims into the city is appalling. Whenever I arrive along with my children to visit Amritsar from USA, we are all welcomed by this foul smell at Gumtala.”
Pollution in this drain has not only been affecting the lives of people living around it, but also leaving a very bad impression on tourists visiting Saada Pind, War Memorial, Ram Tirath and other places close to Bypass area. While country is struggling to come out of COVID pandemic dark days, the issue of polluted ground water and dismal air quality is affecting lives of common man every day, said Gumtala.
Friends of Amritsar organization in its communique from Canada through their Convenor Anant Singh, has asked the Municipal Corporation Amritsar to put its house in order. He said that, MCA should not be just harping about Smart City Projects rather focus on putting into place tangible works in Sustainable Development for the city. One of the important one is to solve the problem of polluted water and effluents discharge into the Tung Dhab drain, that has become a bane for the areas through which it passes.
