Pinki MLA visits naturally created island Kaluwala near Zero Line along with health team

Pinki MLA visits naturally created island Kaluwala near Zero Line along with health team

Ferozepur, May 23, 2021: The naturally created island Kaluwala sandwiched between Sutlej River from three sides and the unfriendly Pakistan on the fourth side, situated along the zero line, was visited on Sunday, by MLA Parminder Singh Pinki along with health team for starting Covid sampling and vaccination. In all, about 50 persons were vaccinated on the first day and free medicines were distributed.

Added here, after the independence, first time the Primary school was opened which was visited by Punjab Education Secretary, Krishan Kumar during the month of January, on his visit to Ferozepur to encourage the education mentors to achieve the ShatParshat Mission and also visited newly constructed Government Primary School at naturally created island village Kaluwala near Indo-Pak border.

The Kaluwala island was created naturally in 1988, when a swollen Sutlej changed course and split into two branches near Kasso – a BSF Border Out Post to become one river again at Chandiwala village. Between the two branches of the river, a 5-mile route created an island, which was cut off from the mainland. There are two secluded villages –Kaluwala and Nihalewala – a few 100 meters from cobra fencing, along the India-Pakistan border and depict a picture of neglect. The village is now bordered on three sides by Sutlej River and on one side by the Indo-Pak border. With the opening of Primary School in this village with modern infrastructure, the children would love to come to school, to get the primary education.

In fact, the only mode of transportation available in the village is a wooden “bera”, which ferries residents to the town as it is surrounded by the Sutlej from three sides with a barbed wire fencing separating it from Pakistan on the fourth. Moreover, the villagers have to often wade through the Sutlej, which is polluted due to toxic discharge from tanneries in Pakistan. Due to contaminated water, several villagers suffer from skin ailment forcing them to maintain social distancing. The village is so far saved from Covid pandemic impact.

MLA Parminder Singh Pinki said that a sampling and vaccination campaign has been started in the village along with the health department and now a weekly team will visit this village for general check up besides starting a helpline to provide health facilities to the villagers in case of need. He said that Congress party and their only goal was to provide every facility to the last person standing in the line.

The villagers are still a little scared of getting vaccinated but they are being motivated to fight with the corona epidemics, said health official.