Despite PCB action plan, water quality deteriorates in Baddi and Parwanoo

Ambika Sharma

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Solan, July 12

Water quality of rivers and nullahs in the twin industrial towns of Baddi and Parwanoo is deteriorating despite elaborate action plans being devised by the State Pollution Control Board (SPCB).

The fact that Sirsa river in Baddi and Sukhna nullah in Parwanoo have now been placed under Priority-I criteria instead of the earlier Priority-III criteria, indicates how the water quality was gone from bad to worse.

Sirsa river under Priority-I criteria

• The Sirsa river stretch in Baddi was rated under the Priority-III criteria as its BoD was between 8 mg and 16 mg per litre in 2019 as against the safe limit of 3 mg per litre.
• It has now been rated under Priority-I where the BoD level was as high a 40 mg per litre
• The quality of the Sukhna nullah in Parwanoo has shown no improvement. The value of its BoD has been found to exceed 30 mg per litre and it has been placed in the Priority-I criteria

The SPCB is monitoring water quality of various rivers under the National Water Quality Monitoring Programme. The level of biological oxygen demand (BoD), which is the amount of oxygen needed or demanded by aerobic microorganisms to break down the organic matter, determines the priority level.

With cases of industrial units openly dumping their toxic untreated effluents into the water bodies coming to fore every now and then, the quality of Sirsa river and its tributaries, where these nullahs confluence, has worsened in Baddi. One can see toxic-ridden effluents flowing into the nullahs every now and then, indicating how the industries conveniently ignore treatment norms.

Connectivity with STPs being enhanced: SPCB

Efforts are afoot to improve the water quality. Connectivity with STPs is being enhanced in Parwanoo. Power connections of 26 units in the Baddi-Barotiwala belt have been snapped for failing to send their effluents to the treatment plant for disposal. —Anil Joshi, member secretary, State pollution control board

Sirsa river stretch was rated under the Priority-III criteria as its BoD was between 8 and 16 mg per litre in 2019 as against the safe limit of 3 mg per litre. It has now been rated under Priority-I where the BoD level was as high a 40 mg per litre, indicating its worsening quality.

Its tributary, Balad too has shown an equal deterioration in its quality and it too has been placed under Priority-I by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

Worse, persistent monitoring by the National Green Tribunal has not sensitised the authorities to implement the action plan in letter and spirit. It is appalling to note that water quality has deteriorated in the last five years.

The quality of Sukhna nullah in Parwanoo is no better. The value of its BoD has been found to exceed 30mg per litre on all occasions. It has been placed under Priority-I criteria by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). It is considered polluted and identified for remedial action.

While a sewage treatment plant set up two years ago was yet to be used optimally, commissioning of another has been delayed due to paucity of funds. Sewage is found to be the main cause of pollution in Sukhna nullah.