The Monitoring Committee, constituted by the National Green Tribunal on Tuesday emphasized the need to put in place an effective mechanism for cleaning of rivers to make Punjab clean, green and pollution free.Reviewing the progress of Action Plan chalked out for the cleaning of rivers in its 6th meeting here at MGSIPA, the Chairman of the Monitoring Committee Justice Pritam Pal (retd) asked the renowned environmentalist Baba Balbir Singh Seechewal to ensure cleaning of Buddha Nullah in Ludhiana on the scientific lines besides roping in all religious, social and non government organizations to undertake this noble cause in a mission mode. He also asked the Punjab Pollution Control Board and Municipal Corporation Ludhiana to extend all possible assistance for the execution of this pious task likely to begin in the last week of September.With a view to creating awareness amongst the Industrialists about the hazardous impact of pollution on natural resources and human life, the Committee also decided to organize a mega workshop at Ludhiana to sensitize the industrialists from different parts of the state especially from Ludhiana and Jalandhar. The Committee also desired that eminent environmentalists from across the country, experts from Central Pollution Control Board be invited to deliberate on the vital issues concerning water, air and environmental pollution and its ill-effects on the human life.Dwelling on the marked improvement in the quality of river waters, the Principal Secretary Environment Rakesh Verma apprised that water quality of river Beas along Mukerian (priority-V stretch) had been improved from class-C to Class-B, (the desired river quality level).
The Punjab State Council for Science & Technology is working out modalities for engaging IIT Ropar for development of IoT based river water quality monitoring system and analysis of data for ascertaining the source of pollution & future projections, he added. The PPCB informed the Chairman that the work for installation of 11 Real Time Water Quality Monitoring Stations including 2 locations on Budha Nallah was in full progress and the installation would be completed by the end of December 2019. While monitoring the functioning of Sewerage Treatment Plants (STPs), the Committee underscored the need for a constant and thorough inspection of the STPs. As per the directions of the committee in its last meeting, the PPCB monitored 77 STPs of total 86 in the catchment areas of rivers during the month of July. As many as, 31 STPs were found non compliant and requisite action is being taken against the operators/contractors by the concerned authorities. The committee also took serious note of non-compliant of 5 MLD at Leather Complex, Jalandhar of 3 Common Effluent Treatment Plants. It was also informed in the meeting that PPCB had imposed a penalty of Rs. 25 lac on CETP leather complex on account of non compliance and 3 complaints had also been filed against Punjab Effluents Treatment Societies and Common Effluent Treatment Plant operator. The Committee also directed the PPCB to submit a report on the CETP electroplating to strengthen the GPS based IT system for monitoring the quantity lifted and the movement of tankers deployed for collecting the effluent.Taking part in the deliberations, the noted environmentalist Baba Balbir Singh Seechewal underlined the need for immediately initiating strict action against the default industrial units polluting the air, water and environment in the state. He also asked the PPCB to be tough against the erring industries by imposing heavy penalties and not showing any complicity on this count as a deterrent.
Regarding the monitoring of ETPs functioning installed by the Industries, it was informed in the meeting that eight percent industries had been inspected by the PPCB in July against the target of 10 percent of which 10 industries (24 percent) were found non-compliant and requisite action was taken against the defiant units.The Committee also instructed the Punjab Water Supply and Sewerage Board besides concerned Municipal Committees to expedite the process of setting up of new, up-gradation and rehabilitation of Sewerage Treatment Plants in rural areas and Urban Local Bodies. Senior Member of the Committee and former Chief Secretary Punjab Subodh Agrawal asked the executing agencies to install New Common Effluent Treatment Plants at Ludhiana and Jalandhar expeditiously to check the inflow of untreated effluents and chemical wastes into the rivers.The Committee also directed the Health Department to coordinate with PGIMER, Chandigarh for undertaking epidemiological studies to establish co-relation with the diseases caused due to water pollution.Prominent amongst those present in the meeting included members of the NGT Monitoring Committee Additional Director Central Pollution Control Board, Delhi J Chandra Babu, Babu Ram besides Director Rural Development and Panchayats Jaskiran Singh, Additional Secretary Science Technology & Environment Keshav Hingonia, Additional Commissioner Municipal Corporation Ludhiana Sanyam Aggarwal and Joint Commissioner Municipal Corporation Jalandhar Aashika Jain. Apart from these, senior officials of GMADA, Punjab Water Supply and Sewerage Board, Health Department, Soil Conservation, Drainage, Water Supply and Sanitation department and PSIEC were also present in the meeting.