Will address issue of contaminated water in IG canal: Raj govt

JAIPUR: Rajasthan government today said it would make all efforts to address the issue of contaminated water released by other states into Indira Gandhi canal.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Rajendra Rathore said that sewage water was being released from Jalandhar into the canal, which supplies drinking water to six districts in Rajasthan.

He informed the Assembly that the state government had taken up the matter with the Punjab government in the past and would write to them again.

BJP MLA Amra Ram had raised this issue during Zero Hour and said that the contaminated water was being released in Beas river which was coming to Rajasthan through the canal.

It was necessary to stop the flow of contaminated water which pose threat of diseases like cancer, he added.

Ram also demanded the government to make efforts to ensure that at least one representative from the state is appointed as a member in the Bhakhra Beas Management Board.

Rathore admitted that it was a serious issue and ensured that the government would make all efforts to address it.

Earlier, the minister had assured the House that action would be taken against officials responsible for alleged irregularities in conservative works in Banas catchment area in Sapotara constituency.

Congress MLA from Sapotara, Ramesh Chand had raised the issue alleging that there was corruption and irregularities in the works carried out by the forest department.