Raise wall between drains to stop pollution in Yamuna, dept told

Mukesh Tandon

Tribune News Service

Panipat, June 9

The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has directed the Haryana Irrigation Flood Control Department to raise the dividing wall between drain numbers 6 and 8 in Sonepat district to stop the mixing of waste with the Yamuna waters within six months.

The direction has been issued on the recommendations of the Yamuna Pollution Monitoring Committee appointed by the National Green Tribunal (NGT).

In compliance with the directions of the committee, a joint team, comprising officials of the CPCB and the CSIR-National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (CSIR-NEERI), monitored the water quality of the Yamuna at Wazirabad, Palla village in Sonepat, Panipat and Yamunanagar and drains (ditch drain, Panipat drain and drain numbers 8 and 2) between December 24 and 27 last year to assess and identify the sources of pollution in the Yamuna.

The observations of the joint team revealed that drain no.8 was used for augmenting the flow of the Yamuna earlier. During the survey, the flow in drain no.8 was stopped and no freshwater was allowed to merge with the Yamuna.

The team also observed that drain no.6 and the common effluent treatment plant (CETP) in Kundli were flowing in the embankment of drain no.8, raising the possibility of mixing of freshwater with waste.

The CPCB said it was evident from the observations that the embankment separating drain no.6 (carrying industrial and domestic waste of Sonepat) and drain no.8 was not satisfactory and there was a possibility of mixing of wastewater of drain no.6 and the Kundli drain with the freshwater of drain no.8.

Following the observations, the chairman, CPCB, directed to raise the embankment dividing wall between drain numbers 6 and 8 to eliminate the possibility of mixing of wastewater with the freshwater.

The CPCB further directed that the treated effluent of the CETP drain should be discharged into the recipient drain via closed conduit pipes only. The embankment construction should be completed by November 30, it ordered.

The CPCB also directed the department to submit time-bound action plan regarding the construction of an embankment along drain numbers 6 and 8 and between the CETP drain and drain no.8 within 30 days.

Pollution control board says...

The CPCB said it was evident from the observations that the embankment separating drain no.6 (carrying industrial and domestic waste of Sonepat) and drain no.8 was not satisfactory and there was a possibility of mixing of wastewater of drain no.6 and the Kundli drain with the freshwater of drain no.8.