Haryana: Special panel to monitor quality of 11 major drains polluting Yamuna

Taking note of the increasing pollution levels in the Yamuna, the Haryana Government has constituted a high-level committee to monitor the water quality of 11 major drains flowing into the river. The committee, headed by Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB) chairman, will include senior officials from various departments and will track water quality parameters of both the drains and the river itself on a monthly basis.

According to sources, the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti had flagged the issue in May, pointing out that some stretches of the Yamuna were among the most polluted in the country due to both natural and human activities.

In response, the HSPCB prepared a detailed action plan, highlighting the deteriorating condition of several drains over the past three years (2022–2025). The report observed an increasing trend in the Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) levels in key drains, including the Ditch Drain, Panipat Drain Number, Sonepat’s Drain Number 6 and Budhiya Nala’s legs 1, 2 and 3.

Following the HSPCB’s findings, a meeting of the River Rejuvenation Committee (RRC), chaired by Chief Secretary Anurag Rastogi, decided that the water quality of both drains and the Yamuna would be monitored continuously. “A comparative monthly chart should be maintained to assess improvement in water quality,” said the Chief Secretary.

The newly formed committee will include Member Secretary, HSPCB, Engineer-in-Chief, Public Health Engineering Department (PHED), Engineer-in-Chief, Irrigation Department, Chief Engineers of the Urban Local Bodies, Development and Panchayat Departments and HSIIDC.

The committee will oversee treatment of wastewater flowing through 11 key drains, status of new, upgraded and proposed Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs), progress of Common Effluent Treatment Plants (CETPs), completion of sewerage networks in towns under the Yamuna catchment and installation of treatment systems in villages along the river.

The Chief Secretary expressed concern over the unchecked industrial pollution contributing to Yamuna’s degradation. The HSPCB reported that nearly 3,000 water-polluting industrial units are operating in the state and the water quality in most drains has shown no significant improvement.

One major issue, officials said, was the non-operation of Effluent Treatment Plants (ETPs) in these units.

In a bid to tighten enforcement, the Chief Secretary directed the HSPCB to issue notices under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974. All industries have been instructed to install separate, sealed energy meters on their ETPs and STPs in the presence of Power Department officials.

“Each industry shall maintain a separate logbook showing daily electricity consumption for these plants, and the data shall be submitted to HSPCB every 15 days,” said the Chief Secretary.

He further instructed HSPCB chairman and Member Secretary to personally verify the operational status of ETPs and monitor the electricity usage data to ensure compliance.