Untreated Sewage in Punjab Rivulet Puts Drinking Water and Residents at Risk

He cautioned that during seasonal flooding the pipeline could become submerged in contaminated water, which may increase the risk of contamination through its multiple joints and expose residents to severe water-borne diseases such as cholera and diarrhoea. File Photo.

In Kharar, Punjab, untreated sewage was allegedly being discharged into a seasonal rivulet, posing a threat to nearby residents and drinking water infrastructure, according to local complainant Arun Kumar. He is a resident of Randhawa Road and filed a formal complaint with the Punjab Chief Minister, the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB), the Deputy Commissioner of Mohali and the State Human Rights Commission over the issue, which is a serious public health and environmental concern.

Kumar highlighted in his submission that the drain carrying sewage runs dangerously close to residential colonies, a marketplace, a government school, a municipal park and a hospital, and importantly, a drinking water pipeline runs through the middle of the rivulet. He cautioned that during seasonal flooding the pipeline could become submerged in contaminated water, which may increase the risk of contamination through its multiple joints and expose residents to severe water-borne diseases such as cholera and diarrhoea.

Kumar has accused the Kharar Municipal Council and pollution control authorities of negligence. He said the Executive Officer (EO) of the Municipal Council inspected the site but reportedly dismissed concerns, claiming the drinking water pipeline was intact.

According to the Commission’s office, in response to the complaint, the State Human Rights Commission has summoned officials from the Municipal Council and PPCB to present a written reply and a remedial action plan by January 13, 2026.

Source: Times of India