Directive against effluents’ disposal into water bodies

SOLAN: Taking strict view of a large number of cancer cases emerging from the Baddi-Barotiwala-Nalagarh (BBN) area, Ram Kumar Chawdhary, chairman, Sub-Divisional Grievance Committee, today directed the officials of the State Pollution Control Board to put an end to the disposal of industrial effluents into the water bodies and ensure their proper treatment.

Tribune News Service

Solan, January 16

Taking strict view of a large number of cancer cases emerging from the Baddi-Barotiwala-Nalagarh (BBN) area, Ram Kumar Chawdhary, chairman, Sub-Divisional Grievance Committee, today directed the officials of the State Pollution Control Board to put an end to the disposal of industrial effluents into the water bodies and ensure their proper treatment. He said it was lamentable that despite presence of the common effluent treatment plant (CETP) at Dhabota the problem of industrial pollution continued unchecked.

Officials informed that some industries located on the HPSIDC industrial area were yet to be connected to the CETP. This was causing pollution. They said work was underway to connect the remaining industries to the plant.

While the water drawn from the hand pumps was exceptionally hard, it was an indication of the deteriorating quality of the ground water. He directed the officials of the State Pollution Control Board to get the water tested from a lab at Chandigarh to ascertain its case and see if it was fit or consumption.

He rued that the officials had failed to address the problem of industrial pollution effectively and the locals were bearing the brunt with several cases of death due to cancer emerging from the area.

He directed the officials to visit various areas of the sub-division and make efforts to solve the local problems and speed up development works. He said issues like transfer of land in various projects should be speedily pursued to ensure timely completion of projects.

The committee also noted that the officials should ensure that no contractor was allotted more than three works or works more than Rs one crore as this would ensure maintenance of quality. The state government’s policy on this issue should be adopted in letter and spirit. The officials should also ensure that no work was sub-let as this would adversely affect quality.

He directed police officials to ensure smooth traffic inflow and check ill-parked vehicles which obstructed the flow of traffic and often caused accidents. He directed the Regional Manager, HRTC, to pursue case of construction of the Baddi bus stand by the Bus Stand Authority instead of constructing it on the BOT basis which was adding to the delay.