Jamshedpur: Saryu advocates de polluting Kharkai, Swarnrekha Rivers

Forum for ‘Swarnrekha Bachao, Kharkai Bachao’ campaign

Mail News Service

Jamshedpur, May 28: Jamshedpur East MLA Saryu Roy chaired a meeting with representatives of various political parties, NGOs and general citizens to discuss the current pathetic status of the two city water source lifelines and to devise ways for de polluting the waters.

In the meeting that was organized on Sunday, May 28 at Parmahans Lakshminath Goswami Mandir in Bistupur, participants who also included JNAC Special Officer Sanjay Kumar, Mango Municipal Corporation (MMC) Executive Officer Suresh Yadav and Adityapur Municipal Corporation (AMC) Officer discussed pertinent issues and suggestions.

Putting forth his views and suggesting measures for cleaning the waters and riverbeds of the Swarnrekha and Kharkai, Saryu Roy said, “The very existence of Jamshedpur and adjacent areas depended so much on Subarnarekha and Kharkai Rivers. With time, human habitats and colonies have grown and continue to grow along and near both banks of these twin rivers. Added to industrial wastes, household garbage and other filth find their way into the river waters through drains leading from various colonies to the waters of Kharkai and Swarnrekha. The pollution level is increasing by leaps and bounds and as of now, the waters of these rivers are unfit for human consumption.”

The East Jamshedpur MLA pointed out that with the extended carpet of hyacinths and solid and semi-solid pollutants, the Kharkai waters had become stagnant. Germs had multiplied and the possibilities of severe illnesses were very much there.

Roy attributed another set of reasons for the near stagnant condition of Kharkai waters. He said, “Water is not being released from the Odisha Dam. The plan to construct dams at Icha and Satnala continues to remain in the cold. As a result, Kharkai and Swarnrekha Rivers are not getting proper water feed for flow. Industrial waste water need to be treated before being released into the drains that flow into the rivers. The government should make norms for construction of houses and industrial and commercial buildings with the important condition that there should be provision for soak pits being made for treatment of wastes so that there are no harmful residues before these are released through drains into the rivers.”

As a case in point, the Jamshedpur East MLA referred to the 2004 ‘Damodar Bachao Abhiyan.’ He said, “At that time the effluent from the power plant was being discharged directly into the Damodar River. Talks were held with the government and power plant authorities as also with industries concerned. The government played a major role and in a joint bid, the Damodar River water was rid of industrial pollutants,” and went on to state, “Courtesy the Government of India, sewerage treatment plants are being built at three places in Jharkhand under the ‘Namami Ganga Project’ in a bid to  rid river waters of urban pollution. As challenges stand now, it is imperative to launch a campaign for freeing Subarnarekha and Kharkai waters from urban and industrial pollution.”

Legislator Saryu Roy said that it was also the individual duty of all segments of citizens to ponder on what each could do to rid the rivers off pollutants. “We have to consider what we can do for environmental protection in the course of our daily routine. On the occasion of World Environment Day on June 5, we will organize a symbolic campaign towards saving Swarnrekha and Kharkai waters from inflow of pollutants.”

The  Special Officer of JNAC, Executive Officer of Mango Municipal Corporation and Adityapur Municipal Corporation officials shared their action plan for conservation of rivers and cleaning of drains. The consultant appointed by JNAC explained his plan for construction of sewerage treatment plant.   The meeting was conducted by Mukul Mishra. AK Srivastava, Pankaj Sinha, BP Yadav, Junain Modak, Ajay Kumar, Manav Kedia, Satyanarayan Agarwal, Munna Singh, Vinita Shah, Shivpujan Singh, RVV Singh and others participated in the meeting.