ULB Dept issues show-cause notice to Panchkula MC

PANCHKULA: Even as the Panchkula Municipal Corporation (MC) is grappling with the alleged overspending on roundabouts, the Urban Local Bodies (ULB) Department has issued notice to the civic body for its failure to check the flow of polluted water from slums into Ghaggar river.

File photo

Tribune News Service
Panchkula, February 3

Even as the Panchkula Municipal Corporation (MC) is grappling with the alleged overspending on roundabouts, the Urban Local Bodies (ULB) Department has issued notice to the civic body for its failure to check the flow of polluted water from slums into Ghaggar river.

Director, ULB Department, in a show-cause notice to the MC Administrator-cum-Commissioner, Rajesh Jogpal, on January 25, 2019, has stated: “In a meeting chaired by Chief Secretary on September 21, 2018, it has been directed that the MC will divert waste water discharged from unapproved colonies, which is flowing into Ghaggar river.”

The MC was also directed to submit an action plan to stop the waste water flow into the river by November 27, 2018.

At present, there are two unapproved colonies located on the banks of Ghaggar, including Rampur Seuri in Surajpur and the other in Kharak Mangoli village. There are about 2,000 houses in these two colonies and 10,000 people are living in the area.

The waste water of these colonies flows into Ghaggar, which pollutes the river. Earlier, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) had issued notices to the Haryana government in this regard on September 20, 2018.

While taking serious view of the matter, the Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB) chairman conveyed that the matter of non-submission of action plan by the ULB Department was being brought to the notice of the NGT. “The ULB Department will be responsible for the consequences that may arise due to non-submission of the action plan,” he added.

The ULB department further directed the MC to submit an action plan to the satisfaction of HSPCB officials without any further delay. “Otherwise, the Administrator-cum-Commissioner will be personally responsible for the consequences that may arise and if any fine is imposed the same shall be borne by him in person,” the ULB Department added.

While confirming the development Jogpal said, “I have directed the Executive Engineer to immediately prepare an action plan as desired by the HPSCB and submit the same to the Director, Urban Local Bodies Department.”