CHANDIGARH: Senior leader of Shiromani Akali Dal (Sanyukat) MLA and former Finance Minister, Sh. Parminder Singh Dhindsa, while showing grave concern over the plight and suffering of the people of the Malwa region who have been suffering from deadly diseases like cancer due to the toxic water being released from industries into the Sutlej and Beas rivers since a long time has urged the Punjab Government to take serious steps to resolve this issue so that people of the Malwa region can be saved from this deadly disease.
In a statement issued here today, Sh. Parminder Singh Dhindsa said that Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh should take immediate and appropriate steps to prevent Punjab from becoming a poisonous desert in the future.
He said that the people of the Malwa region have been suffering for a long time due to the release of Industrial toxic waste into the rivers. The people of this region have repeatedly approached both Centre and State Government, concerned departments and Courts in this regard but the situation remained unchanged.
As till date no steps have been taken by the Government to prevent the discharge of toxic water into the river, the people of this region are left with no option other than drinking this poisonous water and putting their life at stake, ” said Sh. Dhindsa
Sh. Dhindsa further demanded that the Punjab government should come up with a better plan to stop the discharge of toxic water released from the industrial areas into the rivers at the earliest. Acidic water is not only dangerous for the health of the people but also badly affects crops and animals, he asserted.
Expressing serious concern over the rising incidence of cancer in the belts of Bathinda, Faridkot, Sri Muktsar Sahib, Fazilka and many other districts due to this toxic water, Sh. Dhindsa said that so far more than 10, 000 people are suffering from cancer in Malwa region.
If this problem is not addressed soon, then the day is not far when the entire Punjab, along with the Malwa region would convert into a poisonous desert, ” added Sh. Dhindsa.
He said that it is really unfortunate that despite having the clear picture of this devastation, Captain Government has turned a blind eye towards the plight of the people of Malwa region and because of which the industrial units operating in the region are fearlessly discharging their toxic waste in the rivers and canals.