NEWS

Just days after dead fish was found floating on the Sutlej and industrial pollution wreaking havoc in the state, Punjab CM Parkash Singh Badal today sought the release of Rs 302 crore from the Union Environment Ministry to control pollution in the Sutluj and Ghaggar rivers. Badal today met Union Minister of State for Environment and Forests Jairam Ramesh and sought the money. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) had already identified the Sutlej and Ghaggar under the polluted category after a study. The four DPRs relate to Jalandhar, Phagwara North, Phagwara South and Phillaur. A spokesperson for the state government said DPRs for Rajpura, Patran, Moonak and Lehragaga, all along the Ghaggar, were under preparation. These would be submitted to the Central Government by year-end. Badal also asked Jairam Ramesh that projects for Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar (Nawanshahr) and Banga towns, which too released untreated water in the Sutlej, should be taken up by the NCRD.