Online monitoring system at sewage treatment plant soon

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, November 17

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has instructed the Municipal Corporation to install online continuous effluent monitoring system (OCEMS) at one of its sewage treatment plants in the city. The city has two such plants on its outskirts. The plants are being maintained by the Punjab Water Supply and Sewerage Board.

As per the guidelines of the NGT, the online effluent monitoring system must be installed at the outlet of each STP. It must have connectivity with the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) and the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). With the installation of the OCEMS, the authorities concerned would be able to keep a check on the functioning of STPs.

The Punjab Water Supply and Sewerage Board, Zone-1, had written to the operation and maintenance (O&M) wing of the MC to provide funds for the online monitoring system. As the NGT is strict, the MC has decided to spend Rs 24.58 lakh to install the OCEMS at at the 95-MLD STP in Amritsar zone -1.

Mayor Karmajit Singh Rintu said the General House of the MC gave a nod to issue funds to the sewerage board for the installation of the OCEMS. “We are concerned for the environment and committed to follow the guidelines of the NGT,” he said.

According to information, the sewage treatment plants also required upgradation. The government has to adopt several other measures to treat effluent properly.

Earlier, the NGT had imposed a penalty worth Rs 20 lakh on the MC for not hiring an independent expert agency to review the solid waste management works being undertaken in the city. As per the agreement, the MC had to hire an independent agency under the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016, for review and offer suggestions. After penalty, the MC began working in this direction recently.

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