More than 50% STPs in Palwal fail to meet prescribed standards

Bijendra Ahlawat

Palwal, February 12

A majority of the sewage treatment plants (STPs) in the district have failed to meet the prescribed standards. The functional sewage treatment capacity of the district stands at just 27 minimal liquid discharge (MLD).

According to a report of the Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB) four STP’s — Palwal, Hodal, Hathin and Hasanpur — operated by the Public Health Engineering Department (PHED) are in a non-complying state. Only three STPs in Palwal — at Jodhpur road (15 MLD capacity), Ferozpur village (2.5 MLD STP capacity) and Kithwari-Agwanpur village (10 MLD capacity) — have achieved the prescribed standard to attain complying status. According to the report submitted last month, while the total capacity of the district’s STPs was 53 MLD, the current capacity of the complying STPs is only 27 MLD. It has been brought to light that the utilised capacity is merely 9 MLD in Palwal city against the installed capacity of 36.5 MLD.

The STPs have been rendered non-complying because of the high biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) of the treated water. The BOD was reportedly 30 which is three times higher than the standard (10) fixed by the HSPCB. The BOD is a measure of the amount of oxygen that is required to remove organic waste matter from the water in the process of decomposition by aerobic bacteria (the bacteria that can survive only in an environment containing oxygen).

The 9 MLD STP at Palwal was shutdown after a 15 MLD STP was made operational by the Urban Local Bodies Department in May 2023. While the STP in Palwal city (9 MLD) was set-up in 2007, the STPs at Hodal, Hathin and Hasanpur were made functional in 2013, 2015 and 2016, respectively.

“Poor sewage treatment infrastructure has resulted in pollution in many areas,” said Kulvir Chauhan, a resident. Rajiv Mehra of the Palwal Industries Association said the Prithla region, housing more than 200 industrial units, lacked a well developed sewerage network and STP. The industries have to hire tankers to dispose of the untreated waste and to procure water for their manufacturing units. He said basic civil amenities, including motorable roads, sewerage network, water supply and a common effluent treatment plant (CETP). were the need of the hour.

Shrikishan Dahiya, Superintending Engineer, PHED, Palwal, said while the STPs were in a functional state, the high BOD was the reason for them being categorised as non-complying. He said the STPs at Hodal, Hathin and Hasanpur were being upgraded at a cost of Rs 16 crore and were likely to be functional within a year.

Utilised capacity less than installed one

According to a report of the Haryana State Pollution Control Board submitted last month, while the total capacity of the district’s STPs was 53 MLD, the current capacity of the complying STPs is only 27 MLD. It has been brought to light that the utilised capacity is merely 9 MLD in Palwal city against the installed capacity of 36.5 MLD.