The much revered Markanda river, which finds mention in the ancient Hindu scriptures, has come under a threat from the unplanned industrial growth in the neighbouring Nahan town of Himachal Pradesh. With a number of multinational companies setting up units there, huge quantities of effluents are being released into the Markanda, which have completely destroyed the biotic life in the river. Anciently known as the Aruna river, the Markanda has its source near Kala Amb. After leaving Himachal Pradesh, the river enters Haryana. However, with the setting up of an industrial cluster in the Kala Amb area of Himachal Pradesh, huge quantities of untreated industrial waste are being released into the river, has not only hurting the religious sentiments of the locals, but has also killed the biotic life in the river. Sources in the pollution control board say that the bio-chemical oxygen demand (BOD) value of the river ranges from 106 to 385 milligram per litre as against the permissible limit of 3mg per litre. The State Pollution Control Board says that the state had taken up the matter with the central pollution control board authorities, requesting them to issue directions to Himachal Pradesh to set up water treatment plant so that the effluents were treated before these are let into the river. But, so far the pleas have failed to yield any positive results, say the sources. The sources said that the state government has also written to the Himachal Pradesh Pollution Control Board several times, requesting it to initiate measures to check the pollution, but to no avail. Meanwhile, a group of locals has approached the state, union and the Himachal governments to install a common water treatment plant to save the river from getting ruined by pollution. Bal Krishan Goel, who is spearheading the movement to save the Markanda, said they had also approached the local legislator and Member of Parliament Kumari Selja, pleading the case of the dying river. He said that they had formed a samiti which would fight for the cause.