JALANDHAR
Raising the issue of growing pollution in the country's rivers and water bodies, Rajya Sabha member Sant Balbir Singh Seechewal emphasized the need to strengthen the 1974 Water Act and reinstate punitive measures. He called upon the Central and State Pollution Control Boards, referring to them as "white elephants," whose negligence has led to the severe pollution of the nation's rivers and water bodies. MP Sant Seechewal termed the increasing pollution in rivers during the period of zero hour as a grave concern.
Sant Seechewal strongly criticized the amendment to the Water Act of 1974, which removed punitive provisions. He pointed out that the discharge of chemically contaminated water by factories into rivers is causing deadly diseases, including cancer, among the public. He stated that both the central and state governments, through amendments to the 1974 Water Act, have effectively granted a free pass to factories that pollute the rivers. He emphasized that water is an extremely serious issue tied to human existence, and life on Earth cannot be imagined without water. The weakening of this law has removed the deterrent for factory owners, he added.
Sant Seechewal asserted that water is not only a right for humans but also for plants, animals, and birds. He highlighted that clean air, clean water, and clean food are constitutional fundamental rights of the people. He further pointed out that there are three primary sources of pollution: urban areas, villages, and factories. Similarly, there are three entities responsible for controlling pollution: the Drainage Department, Pollution Control Boards, and Municipal Corporations, all of which have failed miserably in fulfilling their duties.
Sant Seechewal also mentioned that India's traditions are rich and high in value, as people have always worshipped rivers. Rivers like the Ganga, Yamuna, Godavari, Kaveri, Ghaggar, Budha Darya, and Tungdhaba Nala have become severely polluted. These rivers can only be cleaned with the active participation of the people.
Sant Seechewal, who played a pivotal role in cleaning Baba Nanak's sacred river with the help of the Sangat (community), mentioned that 8 cities and 45 villages used to discharge their wastewater into the sacred Bein, which was successfully stopped using the Seechewal model. He stated in the House that Baba Nanak's cleaned river is a successful model for cleaning the country's rivers, which was accomplished with the community's participation, and this model should be adopted to clean all of the nation's rivers.