Garbage and dead animals found floating in the Boha distributary, which supplies water to several drinking-water schemes and a large number of fields, have triggered concern in Mansa district. Former Union Minister and Bathinda MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal also shared a video highlighting the alleged water pollution.The distributary runs from Bakhshiwala to Boha through Bareta and falls under the Lehal Canal Division of the Water Resources Department.In the video, two youngsters claimed that red-coloured water had earlier been flowing in the canal, which they suspected could have been due to rain. They alleged that garbage and carcasses were now flowing in the distributary.The youngsters further claimed that a large number of drinking-water schemes were dependent on water from the canal, raising concerns over the possible impact of the pollution on water supply.Harsimrat posted, “Dead animals and other waste are coming in the canal flowing from Bareta towards Boha in Mansa district. Forget drinking this water, it is not even fit for use in agriculture. This is happening openly due to the negligence of the AAP government. When this contaminated water reaches the waterworks supplying nearby villages, it could become a cause of disease in the area. The responsibility for any resulting loss of life or property will lie directly with Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, the Water Resources Minister, the Agriculture Minister, the Health Minister, and other concerned officers. I urge the government to come out of its hollow publicity campaigns, take this issue seriously, and ensure that it is resolved immediately.”Meanwhile, Ankit Dhir, Superintending Engineer, Canals, Patiala Canal Circle, said the matter had been brought to his notice and the concerned SDO had informed him that the carcasses and garbage had entered the distributary through a railway siphon on Friday.“I asked the concerned SDO, and he told me that the carcasses and garbage had come yesterday from a railway siphon. The issue has been resolved now. I have asked him to keep an eye on it,” Dhir said.