Post spill funds for Beas halted, Wildlife Dept fumes

Patiala, September 19: Having received just Rs 25 lakh for the “conservation and restoration” of  Beas ecology after the molasses spill by Chadha Sugar Mill, the Punjab Wildlife Department may not get the next installment any time soon. The PPCB, before releasing the remaining sum of Rs 1.40 crore earmarked for this year,   wants another review.

A large number of fish were found dead in the Beas on May 17 following which Chadha Sugar Mill at Kiri Afghana in Gurdaspur was sealed and fined Rs 5 crore. The mill owners deposited Rs 1 crore. Simultaneously, the  government asked a committee of experts to recommend steps to revive the Beas and the PPCB accepted a Rs 3.60 crore proposal, stretching across five years, put forth by the Wildlife Department.

Withholding funds and raising objections to certain expenses, the PPCB, already facing flak for failure to recover the pending Rs 4 crore fine from the erring mill, has now set up another committee.

“It has been asked to review and submit a plan in 15 days,” said PPCB Chairman Satwinder Singh Marwaha.

Responding to the objections raised by the PPCB, the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Kuldip Kumar, said: “The Beas Conservation Reserve is a protected area and the authority to carry out any restoration work lies with us. Instead of collecting the fine from the mill and releasing the money for restoration of aquatic life, the PPCB is dilly-dallying.”

Seeking funds, Kuldip Kumar, shot of a letter to the PPCB authorities in August, which read: “Our department is the nodal agency for monitoring e-flow (waste) into the Beas Conservation Reserve… Apart from this, we have to conduct biodiversity surveys and patrolling. This is not possible without proper equipment and infrastructure.”

PPCB member-secretary Krunesh Garg said: “The expenditure listed by the Wildlife Department, including release of fish seed, boats and binoculars, must be explained… The rejuvenation project needs to be reviewed.”

Kahan Singh Pannu, the then PPCB chief, in his orders dated May 24 had pointed out lapses on part of  Chadha Sugar Industries and ordered that the mill be sealed. A case was filed against the mill and a fine of  Rs 5 crore slapped as “environmental compensation”, which the PPCB claimed was the highest ever in the state. The orders said the fine would be “utilised for conservation and restoration” of Beas’ ecology.

Source Tribune India

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