*No action despite provisions under WRMA
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, July 27: Not only towards sacred River Tawi, which is also known as ‘Surya Putri’, the Government is also maintaining blind eye towards pollution of two major canals of Jammu, whose water is being used for irrigation as well as other purposes by vast population. The prevailing situation is notwithstanding the fact that there are sufficient provisions under Jammu and Kashmir Water Resources (Regulation and Management) Act for initiating punitive action in order to check pollution of these water bodies.
Official sources told EXCELSIOR that the Government, which is groping in dark about checking continuous pollution of River Tawi, has maintained blind eye towards pollution of Ranbir Canal and Tawi Canal, which are major sources of irrigation facilities for vast area, despite being aware of the fact that unless immediate steps are taken these canals would one day virtually become cesspool.
This can be gauged from the fact that about half a dozen major nullahs carrying garbage and sewage from the residential areas have been allowed to directly enter Ranbir Canal in Muthi area by the Urban Environment Engineering Department (UEED) instead of preventing the same by constructing siphons.
Similarly, nine major drains carrying garbage and sewage from the houses in vast area of Trikuta Nagar Extension and adjoining localities have been allowed to enter Tawi Canal, which flows from outside the Railway Station Jammu.
Taking advantage of non-seriousness on the part of the UEED authorities in diverting these drains, even large number of people living in the vicinity of these canals are directly disposing house sewage or house hold waste into these canals, sources said while disclosing that due to these drains/nullahs the pollution level in both these canals is increasing continuously.
Though growing pollution of these canals was discussed in a high level meeting convened recently by none else than the Minister for Irrigation and Flood Control but there was no positive outcome as the UEED, which comes under the administrative control of Housing and Urban Development Department, expressed inability to divert the drains for want of funds.
“The authorities of UEED conveyed the Minister that they have prepared and submitted the Detailed Project Reports for diversion of drains/nullahs but expressed inability to start work for want of funds”, sources said, adding “though they claimed that these drains/nullahs carry only storm water, the fact is that these nullahs are being used for dumping of all sorts of garbage by the people living in their vicinity”.
When contacted, Chief Engineer, Irrigation and Flood Control, Rajeev Gandotra confirmed that these drains/nullahs have been polluting the Ranbir Canal, adding “the Minister has given strict instructions to the UEED authorities to take immediate steps for diverting these nullahs”.
However, what results these instructions would yield in the absence of any time-line remains a million dollar question.
Similarly, Chief Engineer Ravi Tawi Irrigation, H C Jerath confirmed that nine major drains directly flowing into Tawi Canal are the major source of its pollution. “After all UEED is also a Government Department” was the response of Chief Engineer when his attention was invited towards the Jammu and Kashmir Water Resources Management Act under which action can be taken against UEED authorities for polluting canal.
Despite repeated attempts, Chief Engineer UEED, Naresh Langeh didn’t pick up his phone to comment on the difficulties being faced by UEED in diverting the nullahs.
Stating that all the concerned agencies are watching the situation as mute spectator, sources said, “the prevailing situation is notwithstanding the fact that Section 75 of Jammu and Kashmir Water Resources Management Act (WRMA) prohibits discharge of sewage in the irrigation work”, adding “this Section states that no person shall pollute or discharge any sewage in the water of any irrigation work which may deteriorate the quality of water or give rise to the growth of weeds”.
Moreover, disposing house sewage or other house hold waste into any water source is an offence under Chapter 156 of the Act.
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