Many months after directions were issued by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Rajasthan is yet to establish a real time water quality monitoring system for evaluation of contamination levels in inter-state watering canals.
The monitoring system to assess water quality on real time basis shall be crucial to ensure remedial action to control factors contributing to pollution.
“It has become a necessity to regulate and minimise the inter-state dispute on water quality, where downstream states are receiving polluted water from upstream states,” says an official at the CPCB.
The monitoring system is proposed to assess water quality on parameters of ph, dissolved oxygen, biochemical oxygen demand and chemical oxygen demand.
The Central Board has reminded Himachal Pradesh, Punjab and Rajasthan to instal the system on inter-state borders where Sutlej river water crosses into the state.
Interestingly, the Central Board had proposed a system for complaints from Rajasthan regarding receipt of contaminated water. However, the state is yet to comply with the directions. The process is still being held manually.
“As of now there is no system for real time monitoring, the water samples are taken by public health engineering department and sent for testing to the state pollution control board,” says a senior officer at Rajasthan State Pollution Control Board.
The issue remains a major concern for the western districts connected with the Indira Gandhi Canal project.
The issue was further highlighted following a major spillover of molasses from a sugar mill in Punjab that rendered the water unusable for drinking. The water supply to the districts of Srigangangar, Jaisalmer and Bikaner has been impacted following the contaminated spillover.
It may be recalled that on May 17, a large number of fish were found dead in the Beas after molasses from a sugar factory spilled into the river in Beas town, 40 km from Amritsar.
Contamination
It may be recalled that on May 17, a large number of fish were found dead in the Beas after molasses from a sugar factory spilled into the river in Beas town, 40 km from Amritsar.
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 "Indira Gandhi Canal")
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