Despite NGT rap, effluents continue to flow into Bein

Aparna Banerji

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, November 13

Following fortnight-long 550th Gurpurb celebrations, the flow of effluents into the Kali Bein has increased manifold. Waste from langars, colonies near Rail Coach Factory (RCF), Kapurthala STP and sewage from Bholath continue to flow into the bein.

A week has passed since NGT Monitoring Committee Chairman Justice Jasbir Singh (retd) told the Gurdwara Ber Sahib authorities to stop the flow of langar waste into the Bein, but nothing has been done.

Locals claimed that the government was doing nothing to prevent the colonisation of the Bein and a sprawling building coming up by the banks of the bein is further adding to their apprehensions. Environmentalist Balbir Singh Seechewal and his followers had taken out two trolleys of waste from the Bein near the Mool Mantar Asthan on November 4. Recently Seechewal had even refused government’s honour citing effluent flow into the bein.

“Dirty water from colonies near the RCF is polluting the Bein. A notice had been sent to the SGPC. The PPCB has been told to check disposal of langar waste into the Bein, but to no avail. We will now issue formal notice. These colonies are dumping waste into the Bein. The government and the authorities concerned have failed to comply with the instructions,” NGT Monitoring Committee Chairman said.

MLA Navtej Singh Cheema said, “We have urged the Gurdwara Ber Sahib authorities not to throw langar waste into the Bein, but they don’t listen to us.”

A huge building called the Ek Onkar Mool Mantar Asthan near Gurdwara Sant Ghat Sahib is being erected right by the banks of the Bein where 13 galleries will depict the mool mantar of Guru Nanak. An additional space of 8 acres is being acquired for it. However, locals expressed apprehensions about the gallery Being right by the banks of the bein. The project is pegged at Rs 50 crore. In addition, a metal-grilled fence, stone-pitching work and gates were also installed across the 6.5-km length of the Bein.

“The Mool Mantar Asthan is being built by UK-based Niskam Sewa Jatha and it will highlight Guru’s philosophy. An additional 8 acres by the Bein is being taken up by the organisation. However, we had detailed deliberations on the issue and the gallery will not exert pressure on the Bein. The sewage or other wastes from the project will be routed to another side and it will not add any further burden on the Bein,” Cheema added.