What prompted Haryana’s single-day inspection of 60 Sonepat units?
A special committee was formed to monitor 11 drains across the state that flow into the Yamuna
Pollution in the Yamuna has long been a contentious issue, and it gained fresh political traction during last year’s Delhi Assembly polls. The Haryana and Delhi governments have since stepped up efforts to curb contamination of the river. At a meeting of the River Rejuvenation Committee (RRC), the Haryana Chief Secretary directed officials to reduce the pollution load in the Yamuna. A special committee was formed to monitor 11 drains across the state that flow into the river. A study found that industrial units were a major contributor to pollution, discharging untreated effluent into drains. Untreated sewage was also reaching the Yamuna. To address the issue, members of the Special Environment Surveillance Task Force (SESTF) recently carried out a surprise inspection of 60 industrial units in Sonepat district in a single day. Lakshit Sareen, Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC), said making the Yamuna pollution-free was a government priority and such inspections were part of that effort.
How many drains meet the Yamuna in Haryana and what is their condition?
Eleven drains in Haryana flow into the Yamuna. These include the Dhanaura drain in Yamunanagar; Drain 2 in Panipat; Drain 6 and Mungeshpur drain in Sonepat; KCB drain; Drain 8 in Bahadurgarh in Jhajjar district; Leg-1, Leg-2 and Leg-3 drains in Gurugram; Budhiya Nala in Faridabad; and Gaunchi drain in Ballabgarh/Palwal.
In Sonepat, the Mungeshpur drain and Drain 6 merge into the Yamuna through the Najafgarh drain. According to the Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB), the Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) levels in almost all these drains exceeded permissible limits, indicating the discharge of untreated sewage and industrial effluent.
Who conducted the surprise inspection of industries in Sonepat?
Acting on the Chief Secretary’s directions, the SESTF, headed by ADC Lakshit Sareen, prepared a detailed survey report of industries located in Haryana State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation (HSIIDC) areas and open areas adjoining Drain 6 and the Mungeshpur drain that were discharging effluent into these drains.
Based on the report, Deputy Commissioner Sushil Kumar Sarwan constituted eight special teams under Sareen’s leadership. The teams inspected 60 industrial units in a single day. The HSPCB deputed five officials from its headquarters to assist in the large-scale inspection drive. Sareen, along with Ajay Singh, Regional Officer (RO), HSPCB, personally visited several units to review compliance.
In which areas was the inspection carried out?
The district was divided into eight pockets amid concerns that untreated effluent was being discharged into the two drains. Inspections were conducted in Nathupur, Akbarpur Barota, Rathdhana, Bahalgarh Road, Pyau Manyari, Kundli, Murthal, Libaspur, Ram Nagar, Dhaturi, Sanpera, Bhigan, Kami Road, Ladsoli and Kharkhoda. Teams collected samples from the inlet and outlet points of effluent treatment plants (ETPs) in these industries. Deputy Commissioner Sarwan said the primary focus was on industries not connected to common effluent treatment plants (CETPs) and suspected of discharging untreated effluent into drains.
What next?
Ajay Singh, RO, HSPCB, said the samples had been sent to a laboratory in Faridabad for analysis as per environmental norms. If any industry is found violating prescribed parameters, strict action will be taken in accordance with the law, he said.
