UEED, ULB Directorate, Health Deptt acting as mute spectator
PCB findings fail to awake authorities from deep slumber
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Jan 4: The much-hyped action plan aimed at checking pollution of River Chenab in Akhnoor area has remained confined to the papers only as different Government agencies, who were supposed to initiate steps to reverse the present situation, have only acted as mute spectators. Due to this, the water in vast stretch of river would continue to get polluted uninterruptedly.
Official sources told EXCELSIOR that on the basis of data submitted by the J&K Pollution Control Board, 12 kilometer stretch of River Chenab from Jio Pota to Pargwal (downstream of Akhnoor Bridge) has been declared as polluted stretch as water in this area doesn’t meet the standard norms of classification of streams under DBU (Designated Best Use).
“The shocking aspect is that there is neither any industrial estate nor any other industrial activity along the polluted stretch of River Chenab and water is being generally polluted by disposal of untreated sewage, unabated disposal of municipal solid waste, unauthorized dumping of construction and demolition wastes and pollution from minor/major establishments”, sources said, adding “three main drains are discharging untreated sewage with common physico-chemical characteristics directly into River Chenab near Jio Pota Mandir and other downstream locations as there is no Sewage Treatment Plant for the Akhnoor town”.
They further informed, “there is no proper treatment facility for municipal solid waste being generated from households and other activities to the tune of 9 metric tonne per day in the town and the same is being dumped in open along the bank of River Chenab. This is also contributing to the pollution of river”, adding “Akhnoor town is a fast developing town and many new buildings and establishments besides Army cantonments have come up in the recent past as a result of which the wastes from construction and demolition activities have also contributed to the pollution of River Chenab”.
In order to put a full-stop on the pollution of River Chenab, sources said that an action plan was chalked out by the Government whereby Common Sewage Treatment Plant with capacity of 3.0 MLD was proposed to be developed by the Urban Environment Engineering Department, Directorate of Urban Local Bodies and Municipal Committee Akhnoor.
“However, till date there is no headway on this vital aspect as pre-feasibility report prepared by the UEED is yet to be cleared by an agency of the Union Government”, sources disclosed, adding “no time-frame can be specified for the establishment of Common Sewage Treatment Plant as after approval to pre-feasibility report the UEED will have to prepare Detailed Project Report, which will again go to the concerned quarter at the Union Government for approval and thereafter funds will be released for start of work on ground”.
They further said, “in the absence of Common STP the administration is not in a position to put pressure on the banquet halls and other establishments to set up STP at individual level for primary treatment followed by connectivity with the Common STP”.
In the action plan, it has specifically been mentioned that the Directorate of Urban Local Bodies and Municipal Committee Akhnoor will ensure scientific disposal of municipal solid waste as per the MSW Rules-2016. “Though land measuring 12 kanals was identified at village Allenpur for scientific disposal of municipal solid waste generated from Akhnoor town but plant has yet not been established”, sources further informed.
Moreover, no seriousness has so far been shown by the Health Department in setting up of Effluent Treatment Plant to cater the requirement of healthcare establishments. “A plan was formulated to have 25 KLD capacity ETP but paper work has yet not been completed”, sources said, adding “in the absence of ETP the liquid waste from healthcare establishments is being discharged into the drain, which ultimately pollutes the River Chenab”.
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