Untreated sewage takes toll on river waters

Aman Sood

Tribune News Service

Patiala, April 18

The state has failed miserably to protect and maintain the quality of its river waters with untreated sewage finding its way into the water bodies. Ludhiana continues to be the major defaulter.

The paucity of funds is a major impediment in setting up sewage treatment plants (STPs) and their effective working. As a result, most civic bodies continue to discharge untreated waste directly into the rivers.

At present, 87 STPs are operational in 67 cities of the state and only 15 meet the water quality norms after treatment primarily due to limited funds to run these STPs.

As per records obtained from the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB), a majority of the 87 STPs are not functioning due to the shortage of funds with the Local Bodies Department, while many are unable to meet the set norms due to poor upkeep.

It is further revealed that 99 cities are yet to set up an STP. The major cities that are polluting water channels include Jalandhar, Amritsar, Zirakpur, Mohali and Ludhiana, where only two out of five STPs meet water quality target.

Kahan Singh Pannu, Chairman, PPCB, said: “The monitoring of major rivers in the state indicates that domestic sewage continues to be the single largest source of pollution and if left untreated, could choke the river flow. Water samples drawn from the Sutlej, Beas, Ravi and Ghaggar at certain stations, confirm to Class E as per environmental norms.”

“Though the quality of water along maximum stretches of the rivers confirms to Class B or C (fit for drinking only after treatment and disinfection), pollution owing to untreated sewage flowing into the rivers is on the rise,” Pannu said, adding that their board sends periodic reminders and holds hearings on the matter. “In most cases, the officials concerned express helplessness due to shortage of funds,” Pannu said.

Last year, Local Bodies Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu had ordered a departmental inquiry into three sub-standard and incomplete STPs in Bholath, the constituency of AAP MLA and Leader of Opposition Sukhpal Singh Khaira.

He had made the announcement during in the Vidhan Sabha in November. Khaira had demanded a Vigilance inquiry, alleging substandard work of a majority of STPs.

Water quality index 

• The recent water quality assessment report prepared by the state government confirms that none of the state rivers has A category of water
• The Sutlej has E category at its entry point near Nangal. It reaches C at Hussainiwala
• The Beas has B category near Talwara. It manages marginally to stay in the same level near its exit point at Harike
• The Ravi too has B category at Madhopura