A long time of 18 years has passed doing the 'karsewa' of
the holy 'Kali Bein'. During this period many ups and downs have been faced but
with the determination of people and grace of God, the successes have been
accomplished. The 'Karsewa' was started after making a prayer to the almighty
at the Gurudwara Ber Sahib, Sultanpur Lodhi, on the occasion of 'Sangrand of
Sawan'(beginning of 'Sawan' month according to Nanaksahi calendar) in 2000. It
was the time when nobody could even imagine that the river could be
revived? When Sant Balbir Singh
Seechewal started the karsewa of the river at Sultanpur Lodhi , there was no road or passage to reach the
bank of the bein. The area was so much covered with dense and huge 'Sarkanda'(
Saccharum bengalens) that even nobody dares to have a look at this side. Till 2003, the 'karsewa' had given a better
shape and appearance to the Kali Bein. It was the result of tireless efforts
and hard work done day and night by the people. In 2003 the 'karsewa' was
started from village Galowal of district Hoshiarpur, from where the river
originates. Due to the stoppage of the
flow of the river, there was the problem of water logging in the area. Its
condition improved in a short time.
People coming in a vast number to take part in the karsewa, was a great
happening. As the water of the bein
turned clean and pure, it brought the karsewa done by the gursangat into
limelight. In 2004, on the occasion of Technology Day, Former President of
India Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam, hailed the karsewa as one of the nine achievements
of India, which gave it a worldwide identity and popularity.
In 2004, Punjab government declared it a holy river. Thus it
became the first river which was declared sacred. On 17 August 2006, Dr. APJ
Abdul Kalam made his first visit to see the karsewa of Holy Bein at Sultanpur
Lodhi. In 2007, a 'Hukanama' was released by Jathedar of Shri Akal Takhat Sahib
that not a single drop of dirty water should be thrown into the river,
intentionally or unintentionally. In July 2008 Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam made another
visit to the holy bein at sultanpur Lodhi. It was a sign of his close
association with the karsewa of the holy bein. In 2008, the karsewa of the holy
bein paved the way to the movement to save the water resources of Punjab. In
this year a barrage was raised at Kala Sanghian drain , the most polluted drain
of Punjab. In the same year, the karsewa was praised by Time Magazine and Sant
seechewal was included in 30 'Heroes of Environment' of the world. An awareness March held in 2009 , marked the
beginning of a big struggle against the water pollution in Punjab. During the march,
the suffering of people of Rajasthan and Malwa region of Punjab, who are
helpless to drink polluted water supplied by Punjab, came into consideration.
In 2009, Sant Kala Sanghian drain, as a protest against the
polluted water flowing into the drain. Even the people from Rajasthan
participated in the task as they were suffering with deadly diseases like
cancer because of the polluted water. In 2015, Uma Bharti, the central minister
of water resources, declared it a 'guru asthan' for the cleanliness project of
river Ganga. She declared to clean Ganga on the basis of the model of the holy
kali bein.In 2017 , recognizing the
karsewa of holy bein , Sant Seechewal ji was honored with 'Padama Shri' by
Indian govt. In May 2018, the release of sugar mill fluid in river Beas, which
put the aquatic life of the river in danger, highlighted the serious issue of
untreated water being thrown into the rivers. The incident made the water pollution
a main issue and Sant Seechewal who was fighting a war against the water
pollution in Punjab, was also a central point in this hour of crisis as the
struggle which was started in 2000 is still continue till 2018. It is the need
of the hour to continue the public movement to save the water resources of
Punjab and then we can provide pure water and clean environment to our upcoming
generations. Remembering the history of 18 years, Let us work to save the
waters of Punjab.
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