Now, Jaisalmer faces polluted water threat

A few days ago, spill of molasses from a sugar factory in Punjab was disposed off in Beas River, which polluted the water and killed fish, snakes and other animals. 

The contaminated water then reached Rajasthan through Indira Gandhi Canal and is expected to reach Jaisalmer via Ganganagar on Tuesday morning. While the administration is on an alert about the matter in Ganganagar and has stopped the water supply but neither the canal department nor the administration in Jaisalmer is aware about this danger. According to experts, water laden with chemicals can be poisonous, which can harm the residents as there is no awareness about the issue in Jaisalmer yet.

The water running in the canal has become black, poisonous and is also extracting a foul smell due to thousands of dead cattle flowing with the water. The canal enters Jaisalmer through Nachana and from there, a different canal supplies drinking water to Jodhpur. After that, the canal reaches Mohangarh, from where the water is supplied to the cities of Jaisalmer and Barmer along with the army area. Further, the canal reaches Ramgarh and Sam.

The Additional Chief Engineer of Jaisalmer said that the water is not harmful for cultivation. He added that the water will be immediately left in canals and miners so that it can be used for irrigation purpose.