The National Green Tribunal (NGT) Monitoring Committee has directed the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) to take proactive steps expeditiously for installation of 11 Real Time Water Quality Monitoring Stations (RTWQMS), of which four would be installed over river satluj, one at Beas, four at Ghaggar and two at Buddha Nallah by March 31, 2020.During the 9th meeting of NGT Monitoring Committee on implementation of Action plans for clean rivers of Punjab, the Chairperson former Judge Justice Jasbir Singh asked the all the line departments to ensure 100% treatment of sewage by March 31, 2020 across the state thereby providing in-situ remediation and completion of all action plans on clean rivers. Justice Jasbir Singh also emphasised on the setting up of STPs and ensuring their commissioning before March 31, 2021 in accordance with the NGT orders.The Committee also reviewed the progress of implementation of Action Plans for Clean Rivers of in the state. The progress related to water quality of polluted rivers stretches, functioning of various Sewerage Treatment Plants (STPs), Common Effluent Treatment Plants (CETPs), Effluent Treatment Plants (ETPs) installed in Industries was meticulously pursued.
Besides, several other development works for setting up of treatment facilities in industrial, urban and rural areas, management of dairy waste in Budha Nallah during the month of January, 2020, were reviewed by Committee.The committee also observed that the water quality in two polluted stretches of River Beas was now meeting the Class B water quality criteria of Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and NGT. The water quality of River Sutlej and Ghaggar stretches varies from Class C to E against desired water quality of Class B. The committee appreciated that non compliance by STPs has been reduced from 45% in April, 2019 to 21% in January, 2020 due to effective monitoring and improvement on operational practices.All agencies were directed to efficaciously execute their planned maintenance and upgradation requirements of STPs in advance to prevent any default. The other members of the committee Former Chief Secretary Punjab Subodh Aggarwal, Former Member Secretary PPCB Babu Ram, Scientist of CPCB J.C Babu and officers/officials of line departments attended the meeting.