To call yourself Punjab, keep your rivers clean – Gunbir Singh

Amritsar, May 19 (Punjab Post Bureau) – We Punjabis lose the right to call ourselves by the name if we cannot keep the rivers of Punjab pristine. Industrial pollutants, untreated municipal wastes and farm chemical runoffs are an unholy cocktail being added to our river waters every single day. 

            Chairman WWF-India (Punjab) Gunbir Singh said that this release of molasses by the distiller may have been accidental, but it only confirms its access to the river flows and its history of sullage release is well known. There are hundreds of such access points into the rivers & waterways of Punjab existing right under the noses of the relevant authorities which continue to run havoc on ecology.

This present incident has not just liquidated the aquatic populations of the area, but depleted the water of oxygen, raised the PH levels and added a massive dose of toxins. The repercussions shall be to the environment and the populations downstream. Early last year also the sudden stoppage of water flows for desilting operations has killed lacs of water species. The present incident endangers the dolphins and Gharials as well which are under global watch. Since the ground water levels in the state are also precariously low due to overdrawing and feeding thirsty crops, it is these river water sources that will be the sustainable supply of tomorrow. 

            Punjab prides itself as the land of five rivers. It has already lost two to partition. It is time that we rethink our right to the name if we cannot keep the remaining rivers and their sources clean, said Gunbir.