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Himachal Pollution Threatens Punjab Rivers
4 Oct
Summary
- Industrial pollution from BBN belt impacts rivers flowing into Punjab.
- Toxic metals found in groundwater exceeding permissible limits.
- Pollution crosses state borders, requiring inter-state coordination.
The Baddi-Barotiwala-Nalagarh (BBN) industrial belt in Himachal Pradesh is facing a severe pollution crisis, impacting public health and groundwater security, with rivers flowing into Punjab being affected. This region hosts numerous industrial units, many allegedly operating without proper consent and releasing untreated toxic gases and effluent. Inefficient treatment plants and allegations of clandestine operations exacerbate the problem.
The Punjab Pollution Control Board has alerted its counterparts in Himachal Pradesh and Haryana following inspections that revealed industrial waste accumulating along waterways, including the Sirsa rivulet and its tributaries, eventually reaching the Sutlej river in Punjab. Research from IIT Mandi and IIT Jammu has identified toxic metals, including nickel and chromium, in the groundwater of the BBN area, exceeding permissible limits and posing potential health risks.
This pollution crisis highlights the externalization of environmental costs, where economic benefits accrue to industries while health and ecological consequences are borne by downstream communities and states. A coordinated approach involving all affected states and stringent enforcement of environmental safeguards is crucial. Recommendations include independent inspections, audits of treatment plants, joint monitoring mechanisms, regular groundwater testing, and a halt to further high-risk industrial expansion without cumulative impact assessments.
