Punjab derives its name from “Punj” and “Aabs”, meaning land of five rivers. However, the rivers of Punjab are facing an ecological crisis as the pollution level has increased tremendously resulting in a threat to thousands of people and its aquatic life.
Alarmed at a report submitted by the by the Punjab State Council for Science and Technology sometime back, the government has decided to collaborate with Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to make a proposal for the cleaning of all the rivers of the state and find a lasting solution to the problem.
Kamata Hiroko, project formulation advisor, Japan International Cooperation Agency has met Parkash Singh Badal and submitted a detailed proposal to set up a joint implementation committee consisting of officers of the government, Punjab Pollution control Board and experts of JICA to implement a project to monitor and clean the rivers of Punjab infested with pollution. Harcharan Bains media advisor to the chief minister, said that as per the proposal, the ambitious project would be funded by the government of Japan and completed within three years commencing from April 2009.
What has triggered the government’s anxiety is the report prepared by the Punjab State Council for Science and Technology, which says the Punjab Pollution Control Board has identified 15,547 polluting industries under various provisions of water and air acts. The report says that the river Sutlej, is the most polluted river of the state. The Government has already started monitoring of rural water supply schemes by application of Reverse Osmosis, Silver Ionization and Ultra Violet techniques depending on the quality of water.