Rs 70 crore plan to make Kali Bein pollution free

Hoshiarpur, Aug 4: To maintain the sanctity of historic canal Kali Bein, the Punjab Government has formulated a Rs 70 crore plan to make it pollution free.

This was disclosed by Punjab Technical Education and Industrial Training Principal Secretary P Ram after inspecting the sites of Kali Bein at Prempur and Thakri village in the district today.

Mr Ram said sewage water of 43 villages and seven towns located on either sides of the Kali Bein drained into it. To stop its flow towards it, alternative arrangements were being made by digging ponds in these villages, the ponds would be built either by exchanging lands of the owners with Panchayat lands or by providing compensation to them according to the prevailing market rates, he said.

He said to purify the sewage water, treatment plants would be installed and after purifying it would be supplied to the farmers for irrigation.

To stop the flow of sewage water to Kali Bein, state government would also prepare a big project with the help of NGOs and public in near future. Mr Ram said that after making the Kali Bein pollution free, beautification work would be done on its periphery.

He informed that its capacity of 200 cusecs of water flow would be increased to 500 cusecs. A micro hydel project would be constructed at RD 10500 at Terkiana village by stopping the siphoning off water at RD 8. The power generated through this project would be supplied to Budho Barkat, Terkiana and adjoining villages of the area.

Mr Ram added that alternative arrangemetns had already been done to divert the sewage water of 22 villages from draining into the Kali Bein.

To make the Kali Bein and its water neat and clean, stress was being given to obtain water from natural resources.

The Principal Secretary informed that apart from Kali Bein, government was also considering to make other canals in state pollution free.

UNI