Ludhiana: Two bizmen caught on cam dumping ‘dry chemical’ into canal

After public pressure and a probe was ordered the accused said they wrote an apology to the PPCB, and claimed that the black material which they dumped in the canal was ash.

Ludhiana deputy commissioner Pradeep Agrawal marked an inquiry against two city-based industrialists after a video of the duo dumping sacks of black material in First Patiala Feeder Canal in Doraha went viral on social media.

A grab of the video in which the accused are seen dumping a black powdery substance into a canal in Doraha.

The duo identified as Rajeev Jain and Sanjeev Jain, both residents of Aggar Nagar, run a cycle parts factory in Focal Point, the DC said.

A person caught on camera the two city residents emptying sacks filled with black material in First Patiala Feeder Canal in Doraha and posted it on social networking sites on Saturday following which the video caught the public’s eye and administration initiated action.

“The accused claimed that it dumped substance was ash, but we will initiate probe to know if they dumped factory waste in the canal. We will check their factory too,” said the DC.

The inquiry was marked to the canal department and Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) on Sunday after the video caught the public’s eye.

After public pressure and a probe was ordered the accused said they wrote an apology to the PPCB, and claimed that the black material which they dumped in the canal was ‘raakh’ (ash) of ‘Hawan Samagri’, which the priest had asked them to dispose in the running water.

GS Gill, environmental engineer, Ludhiana PPCB said they had contacted Rajeev Jain and Sanjeev Jain over the issue. “If it was not industrial waste, the department cannot take action against them, but we will write to the canal department to initiate action,” Gill said.

Former councillor and head of NGO ‘Pehal’, Tanvir Singh Dhaliwal, said in the video after the duo dump the material, the water turns black immediately. “It raises suspicion that the dumped material was some chemical,” he said.

Dhaliwal said the district administration should probe the matter and take appropriate action against those who pollute water bodies.

After pollution in the Beas river, people of the state have started raising concern over pollution in the water bodies.

The man has also recorded the whole scene and even registration number of their car.