Chandigarh, May 23: Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Wednesday warned against any laxity or leniency in the matter of the leakage of molasses into the Beas river, and directed the concerned agencies to vigorously pursue legal and penal action against the offenders.
Reviewing the progress of the action taken so far by various Government agencies, the Chief Minister also sought a detailed report, by tomorrow, 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.
Disclosing details, an official spokesperson said the Chief Minister had directed the concerned officials to ensure that no leniency is shown against those responsible for the incident and stringent action is taken against them.
Captain Amarinder further instructed the various agencies, which are probing the matter, to expedite their investigations so that the responsibility for the act could be pinned and the guilty could be brought to book at the earliest.
The Punjab Pollution Control Board is scheduled to hold a formal hearing into the matter on May 24, said the 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.
The Chief Minister also reviewed the steps being taken to check the quality of the canal water being supplied in the affected areas. As per reports based on samples collected by the Punjab Pollution Control Board at different places, the quality of raw canal water had almost normalised. 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 & 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. The Deputy Commissioners are monitoring the water supply operations closely, along with officials of the Line departments, and the situation was under control, said the spokesperson.
As a precautionary measures, 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.
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