In the wake of recent controversies regarding damage to Himachal Pradesh buses in Punjab, Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains has accused Himachal Pradesh of irresponsibly releasing industrial effluents into state water bodies. He has written to HP Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, urging immediate and strict action to tackle this environmental and public health issue.
Bains also reached out to the Chairperson of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) and the Member Secretary of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) to expedite the resolution of this matter, particularly to protect public health in his constituency of Anandpur Sahib.
In his communications, he cited test results from the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) that indicate hazardous industrial waste from Himachal’s industrial zones is flowing into the Swan and Barmala Khud rivers, which ultimately merge into the Sutlej River. He stressed the seriousness of the situation, mentioning a recent incident where several wild pigs died from intoxication caused by contaminated water.
In his letter to Sukhu, Bains highlighted PPCB reports and complaints from residents, requesting the Chief Minister’s direct intervention to stop the discharge of untreated effluents into Punjab’s water bodies. He demanded strict penalties for polluting industries and called for the immediate closure of any facilities violating pollution norms. Additionally, he sought NGT directives for Himachal authorities to implement stringent pollution control measures and to monitor the remediation of affected water bodies, including the Swan Riverbed, Barmala Khud, and the Sutlej.
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