AMRITSAR: Rapid industrialization and urbanization in recent years have adversely affected the quality of life in the three major industrial cities of Punjab Ludhiana, Amritsar and Jalandhar.
According to a report published by the Punjab Pollution Control Board, the inland surface waters have been badly polluted due to the discharge of wastes and effluents. The quality of ground water in industrial belts of the three cities is unfit for human consumption, the report contended.
It says industrial units generate pollution highly concentrated in time and space and varied in nature. Some of these pollutants being refractory are: difficult to destroy or remove once they enter the atmosphere.
The report warns industrial pollution will lead to extinction of many ‘animal species and a host of diseases including cancer and genetic disorders, The report says all forms of industrial pollutants are directly or indirectly affecting the quality of water air pollutants,
The report prepared by Ms. H.K. Parwana, a scientific officer with the State Pollution Control Board, reveals that the groundwater in some parts of the three cities, particularly Ludhiana is contaminated by industrial effluents and contains chromium, nickel and: cyanide in’ excessive quantities rending it unfit for human consumption. Many a unit in these towns is discharging toxic chemicals.
It says if the degradation of the environment is not checked it will have Long term affects leading to the rise in cases of respiratory diseases, bronchitis, asthma, eye problems, blood pressure and other ailments.
While preparing the report, the board collected and analyzed groundwater samples of hand pumps and tube wells in these cities and other parts of the state. In the industrial belts, the water samples contained harmful chemicals. In Ludhiana alone, 200 samples were analyzed. and it was found that the water of hand pumps located in the industrial areas contained nickel, cyanide and chromium. However, water quality of deep tube wells was not affected.
The report says Ludhiana, the most industrialized town of Punjab, causes concern with every passing year as the pollution situations getting worse.
The Buddha Nullah flowing into Sutlej on the outskirts of Ludhiana is an example of a fresh water seam having been converted into an effluent discharge channel.
Referring to the industrialization in the slate, the report says over the years a number of paper mills, sugar mills, distilleries and various other units came up alongside the rivers. The Sutlej the most polluted of the three major rivers flowing through Punjab.
Article extracted from this publication >> December 8, 1995
