Found discharging effluents into nullah, Parwanoo industrial unit’s power cut

In view of the blatant disregard of the pollution control norms, the officials of the State Pollution Control Board (SPCB) have ordered power disconnection of an industrial unit, Hanuchem unit-3 located in Sector 5 of Parwanoo for discharging its effluents into the Sukhna nullah.

“A complaint was received on March 4 regarding effluent discharge by the said unit into Sukhna Nullah following which the unit and the nullah were inspected by the officials of the SPCB. A yellowish/orange colour effluent was found being discharged from the unit directly into the nullah,” confirmed Anil Kumar, Regional Officer, SPCB, Parwanoo.

A notice was issued by the board officials to the unit management to put on hold illegal discharge with immediate effect. The unit, however, failed to comply and the next day too it was found degrading the water in a similar manner. “In view of repeated non-compliance, the SPCB issued orders for disconnection of power supply of the unit,” informed Kumar.

Exposing blatant disregard to the environment, the said unit and a few others have been letting out their toxic industrial waste into a sewage treatment plant (STP) at Parwanoo, thereby impairing it’s working.

The issue came to fore when the officials of the Jal Shakti Department (JSD) inspected their piped network laid in the town for the STP. It was found that some industries in Sector 5 had illegally connected their sewer connections to the plant’s pipeline without obtaining any permission from the JSD. This was causing huge damage to the STP as it was designed to treat domestic waste and this nefarious activity was interfering with the process of sewage treatment. The quality of treated water which was let out after final treatment into the khud which later confluenced into Sukhna nullah was adversely affected.

Since drinking water is drawn by the neighbouring state of Haryana from Sukhna, the National Green Tribunal had directed the state government to set up STPs in Parwanoo for scientific disposal of sewage.

The officials noticed white and red coloured fluids in the inlet of the STP. On examining further, it was found that two industrial units-Hanucham Industries and Krishnaav Engineering Limited, both located in Sector 5, had connected their effluents waste from their effluent treatment plants in the STP Zone I. This adversely hit the efficiency of the STP.

The officials of the JSD have taken up this issue with the SPCB. The latter observed that sewage connections have been provided to effluent generating industries as well as those having their own sewage disposal plant (STP) which increases the risk of effluents being discharged into the STP.