Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board is continuing with its planned endeavours towards the preservation and conservation of the environment while creating new infrastructure and upgrading logistics for meeting the emerging requirements of the progressively increasing pilgrimage.On the directions of Governor N. N. Vohra, Chairman of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, special emphasis is being laid on preserving the ecology of the Shrine area.The Shrine Board has, interalia, installed several modern Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) at different locations in the Bhawan area, Katra, Kakryal and Jammu. All the 12 major Toilet Blocks at Bhawan have been connected to the 3.2 MLD capacity STP installed in the Bhawan area. Other STPs which have been installed and made functional include 250 KLD STP at Trikuta Bhawan; 400 KLD at Niharika Complex; 400 KLD capacity STP catering to the requirement of Kalika Dham, Vaishnavi Dham and Saraswati Dham at Jammu; 600 KLD capacity STP at Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence; and 200 KLD capacity STP at Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Narayana Superspeciality Hospital at Kakryal. These STPs have been set up at a cost of Rs. 5.80 crore.In addition, a 400 KLD capacity STP is being installed at Adhkuwari, costing about Rs. 2.55 crore, which will become functional by September this year.
Establish a network of STPs in various accommodation clusters and at major Yatra stations is aimed at ensuring effective sanitation through scientific treatment of the solid and liquid wastes which are generated in the toilet blocks.Further, 3 packaged STPs with a total capacity of 25 KLD have been recently operationalized, one each at Gurukul, Balini Staff Colony and at Bio-Gas Plant at Banganga to ensure safe and treated discharge of effluent water as per CPCB norms. In addition, 3 more stand-alone packaged STPs have been planned for Himkoti and Banganga sectors having a capacity of 30 KLD each. This will enable connecting of Toilet Blocks with stand-alone packaged STPs as connecting these blocks with regular STPs is not geographically or otherwise feasible.The packaged STPs have cost over Rs. 1.10 crore.In an effort to conserve water and promote reuse, the treated water from Katra based Sewage Treatment Plants is being used for maintenance of turf and lawns of the Shrine Board’s Sports Complex which results in saving of 60,000 litres of potable water every day.