Document on Problem of Punjab Waters Released by Students' Body

(Chandigarh - 12 July, 2008)
Sikh Students Federation today released a booklet titled ‘Jal Bin Sakh Kumlavati’ and gave a wake up call to the people of Punjab to preserve water and life in the region. SSF President S. Parmjit Singh Gazi, Vice President S. Makhan Singh Ganduan, Organization Secretary S. Simran Singh Mehta and Propaganda Secretary S. Harinderpreet Singh claimed during a Press Conference that Punjab is gripped in severe water crises. This problem is multifold and ranges from scarcity of drinking water to the declining graph of ground water level.

The booklet released by SSF inter-alia provides basic information regarding impact of over drawl of ground water. S. Parmjit Singh Gazi said that the situation of ground water is very critical in Punjab. There are 138 development blocks in the state out of which 112 are over exploited. “The figure was 84 in year 2000-01.” he added.

Federation criticized the Central Government for allocating river water of Punjab to non-riparian states of Haryana and Rajasthan. This is contravention of Indian constitution as well as norms laid down in Helsinki Rules evolved by International Law Association (ILA) in 1966 at its 52 confirmed at Helsinki. Haryana & Rajasthan get hydel power in proportion to river water awarded to them on the other hand Punjab is facing Electric Power Crises. “There is no natural, Indian or International law to justify allocation of Punjab waters to Haryana and Rajasthan” claimed Simran Singh Mehta who is also a student of Masters of Law at Punjabi University, Patiala. “Punjab is the only example in India where river water is allocated to other non-riparian states” he added.

In Punjab non-availability of pure drinking water is another major problem in Punjab. Government encouraged the farmers to use fertilizers, pesticide and insecticides during the phase of so called green revolution. The poison used since then has now polluted the sources of drinking water. Use of such water is causing cancer, hepatitis, skin deceases etc. It has affected human fertility also.

SSF Leaders pleaded that it is the prime responsibility of the Government to provide pure drinking water to the people and health facilities should be upgraded to tackle the health problems. They suggested that area under paddy crop should be decreased in order to save Punjab and alternatives of paddy should be promoted with Government initiative.
“Our document is an attempt to spread awareness among the people of Punjab. Anyone can obtain a copy of the document from SSF website http://www.sikhstudentsfederation.com/ or from our Patiala based sub office, without any charges” said Harinderpreet Singh.

Source: Email From Sikh Students Federation