Tour of Sutlej Flood Plains and Oxbow lakes organized by PAC

Ludhiana,19 Sept 2021

The Public Action Committee Sutlej and Mattewara Forest  organized a guided tour in Ludhiana to the Sutlej flood plains and Oxbow lakes near Mattewara forest here today. This was organized to raise awareness about natural phenomena like river flood plains and oxbow lakes. Apart from the general public and school children, many well-known photographers and video film makers of the city also took part in it.

Mr. Ranjodh Singh of Ramgarhia Education Trust said, “The general public has very little knowledge about such  miracles of nature so this tour was organized as part of a series of awareness campaigns run by PAC. Real life visit to such beautiful places provides joy and understanding well beyond the bookish knowledge. Students and citizens appreciated this guided tour of flood plains and oxbow lakes on the banks of Sutlej. Photography and videography enthusiasts also took part in it with great passion. ”

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Col. CM Lakhanpal of the Sangharsh Committee said, “The main attraction of this tour is an oxbow lake which used to be a part of Sutlej in the olden days. These are lakes that form on the active flood plains  of the rivers when they meander in snake-like paths. This particular oxbow lake is a huge one extending to three villages ie. Ratangarh, Miani and Balliwal. When water in the Sutlej rises it automatically flows into this oxbow lake via underground channels and waterways in the river floodplain. It has a precious heritage value and must be preserved for future generations so that they can also enjoy this beautiful gift of nature. If we don’t pay attention to it now, it will also  be lost for ever as a victim of mindless development. ”

Documentary filmmaker S. Dharmbir Singh, who came with his equipment and crew to shoot said, I wanted to make a documentary film about pollution and encroachment of the rivers of Ludhiana and Punjab. So I had a very special interest in today’s tour and I arrived here with my equipment and crew very early in the morning itself. We will make and release a short documentary film using what we have shot about this oxbow lake and Sutlej flood plains etc in the next few days. ”

S. Mahinder Singh Sekhon of Punjabi Pasar Bhaichara said, “The idea of 1000 acres Modern Industrial Park on the flood plain of Sutlej near this oxbow lake will be beneficial only to a few textile and dyeing houses. The loss will be to the whole of Punjab and to our future generations whose natural heritage will suffer an irrepairable damage. This is both morally and legally wrong and firmly against the internationally accepted principle of intergenerational equity. The govt of Punjab must be forced to shift the location of its Industrial Park to a suitable location away from such ecologically sensitive places.”
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