NewZNew (Chandigarh) : Reiterating his firm commitment to make the rivers of the state clean and pollution free, the Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today sought the personal intervention of Punjab Governor and Administrator of Chandigarh Mr. Shivraj V Patil for checking the unabated discharge of polluted water from Chandigarh city into Ghaggar river through the Sukhna Choe.
The Chief Minister, on whose request the Governor/ Union Territory (UT) Administrator called a meeting at Punjab Raj Bhawan this morning, apprised him that untreated sewage and sub standard treated waste water of Chandigarh city was carried by Sukhna Choe into Ghaggar river in the state. He said that this untreated waste water was causing a major health hazard for the people living along with the Ghaggar, due to which they were facing a lot of hardships. Mr. Badal apprised the Governor that there were eight vulnerable points in the Chandigarh city through which untreated waste water/ sewage was being thrown in the Ghaggar river adding that the need of the hour was to plug these points.
Impressing upon Mr. Patil to take an immediate action in this regard, the Chief Minister said that a survey conducted by the Punjab Pollution Control Board has recently identified these points including IT Park, Kishangarh, Indira Colony, Shastri Colony, Manimajra, Bapu Dham Colony, Dariya, Hallomajra, STPs at Raipur Khurd and Raipur Kalan as the main sources of pollution in river Ghaggar. Listing the steps initiated by the state government to reduce pollution in Satluj, Beas and Ghaggar rivers, Mr. Badal informed the Governor that Sewerage Treatment Plants have been set across the state besides a close tab was being kept on the Industrial units to disallow the flowing of untreated waste water in the rivers. Likewise, he said that in a step aimed at using the treated water for irrigational and other purposes the state government has prescribed the BOD limits in water to 10.
Responding to the issues raised by the Chief Minister, Mr. Patil said that every step would be taken to ensure zero discharge of untreated waste water in the Sukhna Choe which drains into river Ghaggar. He said that the administration has already given in principle approval for sanctioning funds worth Rs 2.5 crore to plug the points causing pollution in the Ghaggar. Mr. Patil also asked the Chief Minister to depute the officers of the state government and Punjab Pollution Control Board to conduct a joint inspection with the officers of the Chandigarh administration to monitor these sources of untreated waste water.
The Governor also asked the officers of the Chandigarh administration to gear up the entire machinery for ensuring completion of entire work related to stopping of untreated waste water discharge into river Ghaggar through Sukhna Choe passing through the city within stipulated time period. Mr. Patil said that any laxity or inordinate delay on part of officers in executing these projects of paramount public importance would not be tolerated at any cost. He also asked the officers to submit monthly reports regarding the progress of the work to the Chief Minister’s Office.
The Chief Minister was accompanied his Principal Secretary Mr. SK Sandhu, Secretary Local Government Mr. Ashok Gupta, CEO Punjab Water Supply and Sewerage Board Mr. DK Tiwari, Special Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Dr. S Karunaraju and Chairman Punjab Pollution Control Board Mr. Ravinder Singh.
