After nearly a decade, Muktsar’s STPs set for revival
After years of delays, repair work on the three non-functional sewage treatment plants (STPs) in Muktsar town has finally begun.
In addition, construction work on a new STP is also set to begin.
The project, which includes the repair of the three existing STPs and the construction of a new one, is being carried out with a budget of Rs 21.31 crore. This amount will cover the repair of the existing plants, as well as the construction, operation, and maintenance of the new facility for the next five years.
For nearly a decade, the three existing STPs have remained non-operational, posing serious environmental and health risks. Untreated sewage has been flowing into the Chandbhan drain, which ultimately merges with the Sutlej River.
Shockingly, some local farmers have been using this contaminated water for irrigation, further worsening the public health crisis.
The issue has drawn attention from various stakeholders, including the National Green Tribunal (NGT), which has previously directed the state government to stop the discharge of untreated municipal wastewater into drains.
Despite these urgent warnings, the authorities struggled for years to take concrete steps, with repair work repeatedly delayed due to various reasons.
The town has three STPs, with a capacity of 8.7 million litres per day (MLD), 5.7 MLD, and 3.5 MLD. These were commissioned by the Department of Water Supply and Sanitation at a cost of nearly Rs 15 crore and were handed over to the Punjab Water Supply and Sewerage Board in 2021 in a non-functional condition.
Since then, the Board officials have been submitting detailed project reports (DPRs) for their repair.
Vishavjeet Singh, Sub Divisional Engineer, Punjab Water Supply and Sewerage Board, said, “The repair work of the existing three STPs has already begun, and construction of a new STP of 5 MLD will commence soon. The total project, including construction of a new STP, its operation and maintenance for five years, will cost nearly Rs 21.31 crore. The work is to be done under the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) 2.0 scheme.”
