Pollution board issues show-cause notices to Panipat MC

The Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB) has served show-cause notices on the Panipat Municipal Corporation for the non-compliance of pollution norms by five sewage treatment plants (STPs).

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The Yamuna enters Panipat from Rana Majra village and covers a 33 km area up to Rakshera village of the district, after which it enters Sonepat.

As per data, the capacity of the STPs is over 168.8 MLD, and the total discharge from the city is over 100 MLD. According to HSPCB’s reports, 78 MLD sewage reaches the STPs for treatment while the remaining 22 per cent sewage is directly discharged into the drain numbers 1 and 2, leading to the Yamuna.

The STPs of the capacity 100 kilo litre per day (KLD) or more than 100 KLD are in the 'red category'. The pollution board has served notices on the MC under Section 44 of the Water Act, 1974, and revocation of Consent to Operate and imposition of environmental compensation for non-compliance.

According to the sources, the board officials inspected the STPs recently and observed several shortcomings, like the SBR aeration basins were not functioning properly; the sludge bulking/accumulation was visible, indicating improper sludge generation; the MLSS value was very high and dissolved oxygen level was not being maintained properly; methane gas was neither flared up nor being used for power generation; and the flow meter was not installed at outpass and bypass mechanism.

The shortcomings revealed that the STPs are not working properly and partially treated effluent is being discharged into the Yamuna through adjoining drains, the notice reads.

Bhupender Singh Chahal, Regional Officer, HSPCB, said the notices were served on the basis of the inspections.