LAHORE - Besides executing a study of the Hudiara Drain pollution and its treatment issue, the government intends to raise the issue with neighboring India, The Nation has learnt.
Sources said that India will be demanded to set up water treatment plants on the said drain that adds major chunk of pollution into River Ravi.
A consultant will also be recruited to prepare a report after studying the concentrations of heavy metals. After completing the study a PC1 to install a water treatment plant at the drain before entering into the River Ravi will be prepared. The study will be conducted with the cooperation of WWF.
At a high level meeting chaired by the Additional Chief Secretary Energy and attended by secretaries of concerned departments, officials of Lahore Development Authority and other attached departments, the Hudiara Drain issue was discussed and different options to resolve the pollution of the drain were considered. The drain which is a storm water channel originates from Batala in district Gurdaspur, India and enters into Pakistan at village Laloo. After flowing about 50 kilometres, it joins the River Ravi. Sattukatla drain also joins this drain. Hudiara Drain is highly polluted due to addition of the untreated industrial effluents and city sewerage both in India and Pakistan. If the matter remains unnoticed it can have a very serious impact on the human health and other animal species of the area, an environment expert said.
All the participants were of the opinion that this drain contains proven high levels of toxic so both of the countries should treat the poisonous waters that affect natural environment, birds, animals and other wildlife dependent upon it. The untreated dumping of sewerage into the River Ravi will give rise to health issues in the area as well, it was noted.
When an EPD officer was asked about the matter, he said the discharge of untreated industrial effluents into the Ravi at the scale it is being added will have adverse environment effects. He said the department had time and again issued notices to industrial units as well as the posh residential colonies on Pakistani side to install water treatment plants before throwing the polluted water into the drain.