Taking up a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by Hanumangarh (Rajasthan)-based farmers, the National Green Tribunal has issued notices to the Centre and the Punjab Government for July 21. The PIL was filed by Hanumangarh Zila Parishad chairperson Shobha Singh Doodi and vice-chairperson Shabnam Godara seeking a check on supply of contaminated canal water by Punjab to Rajasthan. The PIL, also signed by panchayat samiti's former vice-president Rajinder Prasad, had listed the Punjab Government, heads of its Health and Industries Departments and the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) as parties in the case. The tribunal has put all defendants on notice. The petitioners claimed they visited several places in Punjab on May 5 and were astonished to see state government's criminal neglect on the issue. They have also launched the Jal Jagriti Yatra to mobilise people on the issue. Environmentalist Maneeshanand flagged off the yatra from Gayatri Mandir in Tibbi segment of Hanumangarh district today. Doodi said the Punjab Government had failed to check discharge of chemical waste from Jalandhar and Ludhiana-based industrial units into the Sutlej and the Beas. Highly hazardous chemicals were being allowed to flow through the Sirhind Feeder to the Indira Gandhi Canal, the Rajasthan Feeder, the Ferozepur Feeder and the Gang (Bikaner) Canal. The Bhakra canal system feeds Hanumangarh, Sangria and Peelibanga. The water released through 650-km-long Indira Gandhi Canal is consumed by millions of people in Sriganganagar, Churu, Bikaner, Nagaur, Jodhpur and Barmer districts. Shabnam Godara said the pollution control board had been deferring action against the erring industries under pressure from political parties and others. Petitioners' contention Punjab has failed to check release of chemical waste from industrial units into the Sutlej and the Beas Highly hazardous chemicals flow through the Sirhind Feeder to the Indira Gandhi Canal, the Rajasthan Feeder, the Ferozepur Feeder and the Gang (Bikaner) Canal.