On NGT orders, samples collected from all dists

Aparna Banerji

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, November 23

The National Green Tribunal has taken serious note of the presence of uranium and other metallic pollutants in groundwater in the state.

On its orders, water samples were taken from various districts till November 21. The sampling was carried out by a special committee constituted on NGT orders.

The committee comprised officials from the Central Pollution Control Board, Central Ground Water Authority, Punjab Pollution Control Board, Chandigarh, Irrigation Department, Department of Water Supply and Sanitation, Geological Survey of India, and professors from IIT, Chandigarh, Punjab Engineering College, Chandigarh, and College of Agriculture, Solan, Himachal Pradesh.

Twelve samples each were taken from Jalandhar, Amritsar, Gurdaspur, Bathinda, Mohali, Ludhiana and Amritsar.

Dr Babu Ram, member secretary, said: “Sampling has been conducted in all districts and samples have been sent for testing. Based on these, the next course of action will be initiated.”

While the National Green Tribunal has sought a report regarding the same within eight weeks from the order, the reports would be out by mid-December. The next date of hearing on the case with the tribunal is January 6.