Survey finds toxic chemicals in drinking water supply in Lohian

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, September 20

The mixing of waters from the swollen Sutlej with Kali Bein in flood-affected Lohian has reportedly proven disastrous. A sample survey of the water supply that a social group got conducted has shown that the toxic elements are far higher than the set parameters.

Presenting a water report prepared by a laboratory in Mohali, Parminder Pal Singh Khalsa, president of the Sikh Sewak Society International, and general secretary Balwinderpal Singh, said in more than a dozen villages, the water had got badly contaminated.

Parminderpal Singh Khalsa said the test results of bacteria E. Coli and coliform in these waters had yielded a value of 3.80 mg while it was required to be zero. The chemical oxygen demand was found to be 54.5 mg. More importantly these water contain heavy metals, including ammoniacal nitrogen at 1.82 mg, which gives rise to cancer and other deadly diseases.

He said samples were taken from flood-affected Jania Chahal, Mandala, Mandala Chhana, Nasirpur, Sheikh Manga, Saroopwal, Yusafpur Darewal, Chananwindi, Watanwali, Giderpindi, Mundi Kalu, Dhaka Basti, Mundi Sheharian, Mundi Cholian and Gatta Mundi Kasu. There could be no drainage of contaminated water in these villages and hence it percolated down, he said.

He said that his organisation had set up medical camps in these villages and was planning to do so in the future. He said the contaminated water had gone up to 200 feet in the bore of the tubewells. The ear drum of Hardev Singh, a granthi of Mandala Chhana, has been damaged and his treatment was being done through his organisation. During the camp at Mandala Chhana, 125 patients were treated on the spot and three patients were admitted to the hospital, he said. He said that they complained of skin irritation, stomach ache, irritation in the eyes and acid like taste in the mouth.

Parminderpal Singh Khalsa and Balwinderpal Singh said that the delegation would soon submit its report to the Deputy Commissioner Jalandhar and Punjab Pollution Control Board officials. He said that mixing contaminated water with river water was a violation of the Water Act, 1974.

The organisation on Friday also announced to sponsor the items for the trousseau of a girl in a flood-hit area who was to get married. All items that the family had got readied washed away, they said. Sandeep Singh Chawla, Santokh Singh and other members of the society have been engaged in social work.