Panipat’s Drain-1 gets dirtier: Pollution board finds 50 sewage discharge sites, up from 43

The Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB) has identified 50 locations where untreated sewage is directly flowing into Panipat’s Drain-1, which ultimately joins the Yamuna. The findings mark an increase from 43 discharge points identified during the Board’s February survey.

The latest survey was conducted after directions were issued in last month’s Yamuna Rejuvenation Committee meeting chaired by the Member Secretary of the HSPCB. Teams inspected both Drain-1 and Drain-2 under the Yamuna Action Plan.

According to officials, of the 50 discharge points flagged, 42 fall under the Municipal Corporation, five under the Haryana Shahri Vikas Pradhikaran (HSVP), two under the Public Health Engineering Department (PHED) and one under HSIIDC.

The Yamuna flows through a 33-km stretch in Panipat, entering from Rana Majra and exiting at Rakshera village towards Sonepat. Drain-1, which cuts through the heart of the city from Kabri Road to Chautala Road, remains heavily polluted due to untreated effluent from industrial units and raw sewage from residential pockets. Drain-1 merges with Drain-2 near Chautala Road before meeting the Yamuna at Khojkipur village. Samples from both drains have repeatedly failed lab tests.

Despite the city having 168.8 million litres per day (MLD) sewage treatment capacity — far more than the 95 MLD sewage generated — only 80% of the sewage actually reaches the STPs, the survey notes. The remaining 20% is discharged straight into Drain-1, significantly contributing to Yamuna pollution.

Sources said the February survey report had been forwarded to the Municipal Corporation for corrective action, but little progress was made. Instead, the number of illegal discharge points has risen. “Seven additional points have been found compared to the previous survey,” an official noted.

Under the Yamuna Action Plan (2019), all illegal sewage discharge points are to be tapped by December 31, 2025.

Member Secretary Pradeep Dagar said the priority is to stop the release of “all types of effluents, including industrial, sewage and solid waste, into the drains that lead to the Yamuna to curb water pollution.” He added that both the state and Central governments are “serious about the air and water pollution, especially the Yamuna.”

He said officials have been directed to tap all illegal discharge points, particularly in NCR districts.