Angry villagers from Himachal Pradesh's Sirmaur and Solan districts have raised a serious alarm over severe water pollution, accusing several local establishments of contaminating their primary water source. They have formally demanded immediate action from the district administration.
Memorandum Submitted Over Dirty Water Supply
Residents from the Pachhad block in Sirmaur and the Kotla Panchola panchayat in Solan came together on Thursday to voice their grievances. They submitted a detailed memorandum to the Solan Deputy Commissioner, Manmohan Sharma. The core complaint is that their villages have been receiving 'dirty water' for the past 18 to 20 days, making it unsafe for consumption.
Panchayati Raj representatives led the delegation, urging the administration to ensure a safe drinking water supply and halt the pollution at its source. According to the villagers, the contamination stems from the Shoolini Khud, a stream that serves as their main water source.
Factories, Colleges & Hotels Accused of Pollution
Hem Raj Kashyap, President of Kotla Panchola Panchayat, pinpointed the alleged culprits. He claimed that a resin factory, a nursing college, and some hotels are regularly discharging untreated effluents directly into the Shoolini Khud. This has led to significant pollution of the water body.
The situation has become so dire that the Jan Shakti Department has stopped the water supply to the affected villages to prevent a public health disaster. Kashyap highlighted that the crisis isn't limited to humans; domestic animals are also suffering due to the acute water shortage caused by the shutdown.
Administration Springs Into Action
Responding to the outcry, Deputy Commissioner Manmohan Sharma confirmed that the State Pollution Control Board had tested water samples from the area. The samples failed to meet the necessary safety criteria. Following this, the administration took a stern step and issued orders to disconnect the power supply of the entities found to be violating norms.
Furthermore, Sharma announced that a committee is being constituted to thoroughly examine the allegations of effluent discharge into the Shoolini Khud. This committee has been directed to submit its report within a week. Another local leader, Sohan Lal, echoed the community's demand, urging the administration to take effective and permanent steps to safeguard their water supply.
The incident underscores the growing tension between development activities and environmental conservation in the region, putting a spotlight on the urgent need for stricter enforcement of pollution control laws to protect vital natural resources.
