PPCB told to install 11 water quality monitoring stations

Vishav Bharti

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, February 15

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) Monitoring Committee has directed the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) to take proactive steps expeditiously for the installation of 11 real time water quality monitoring stations, of which four would be installed over the Sutlej, one Beas, four Ghaggar and two over Buddha Nullah by March 31.

During a committee meeting on the implementation of action plans for clean rivers of Punjab, its Chairperson Justice Jasbir Singh asked all departments concerned to ensure 100 per cent treatment of sewage by March 31 across the state, thereby providing in-situ remediation and completion of all action plans on clean rivers. Justice Jasbir Singh also emphasised on the setting up of STPs and ensuring their commissioning ?before March 31, 2021, in accordance with the NGT orders.

The committee also reviewed the progress of implementation of action plans for clean rivers in the state. The progress related to water quality of polluted river stretches, functioning of various STPs, CETPs and ETPs installed in industries was meticulously pursued. Besides, several other development works for setting up of treatment facilities in industrial, urban and rural areas, management of dairy waste in Buddha Nallah during January were reviewed.

The committee also observed that the water quality in two polluted stretches of the Beas was now meeting the Class B criteria of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and the NGT. The water quality of the Sutlej and Ghaggar stretches varies from Class C to E against desired water quality of Class B. The committee appreciated that non-compliance by the STPs had been reduced from 45 per cent in April last year to 21 per cent in January this year due to effective monitoring and improvement on operational practices.

All agencies were directed to efficaciously execute their planned maintenance and upgradation requirements of STPs in advance to prevent any default. The other members of the committee — former chief secretary Subodh Aggarwal, former PPCB member secretary Babu Ram, CPCB scientist JC Babu — and officials of line departments attended the meeting.

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