Pollution board mulls cleansing Ganga, Yamuna basins

Ambika Sharma

Tribune News Service

Solan, December 15

The State Pollution Control Board (SPCB) is finalising the Ganga Rejuvenation Plan, covering the Ganga and Yamuna basins, following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s drive to rejuvenate and cleanse Ganga.

Vineet Kumar, Member Secretary, SPCB, said various aspects concerning pollution in the water bodies spread across various districts, which confluence into Yamuna and Ganga rivers, were being worked out. This included an integrated and coordinated approach of various departments, including the Irrigation and Public Health (IPH) and the local Municipal Committees, which were supposed to deal with solid municipal treatment plants and ensure safe disposal of sewage in their respective areas.

He said the endeavour included cleansing the Ganga and Yamuna basins and a specified area around water bodies which confluence into these rivers. Apart from the nearly 242 km stretch of snow-bound Kinnaur where there was no pollution, other areas required certain interventions, which have been proposed keeping in view the pollution aspects of those areas, he added.

In Sirmaur district, the Yamuna lies along Paonta sahib town. It has become a subject of pollution on account of callous dumping of municipal solid wastes and industrial pollution. Not only have the people residing along the river failed to be linked to an effective sewage treatment plant but the problem of industrial pollution too has become a cause of concern. A Common Effluent Treatment (CET)-cum-Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) has been proposed to tackle the pollution problem of the area. A portion of the Giri River located near Rajgarh is another area requiring some attention though the area is devoid of any industrial activity. An STP has also been planned for this area.

The need to set up a municipal solid waste plant has been emphasised for Paonta Sahib which could be put in place on public private partnership basis, keeping in the view the expanding population.

Common municipal solid waste processing facility for other towns like Rohru, Jubbal, Kotkhai, Chopal and Nerwa have also been proposed in an integrated and time-bound manner as the Pabbar river, which passes through these areas, confluences into the Yamuna basin.