In Muktsar, all 3 sewage treatment plants defunct

Tribune News Service

Archit Watts

Muktsar, April 11

It may sound strange but it’s true — all three sewage treatment plants (STPs) in Muktsar town have been lying defunct for almost six years and contaminated water is being discharged into the Chandbhan drain, which is being used for irrigation by farmers.

Three parties have held the reins of the government in this duration, but all have failed to make the STPs operational. Effluent continues to be dumped into the Chandbhan drain, which eventually merges into the Sutlej.

Two years ago, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) had directed the authorities concerned to stop the environmentally hazardous practice of discharging untreated municipal waste into drains. However, effluent is being discharged into the Chandbhan drain for over five years and no one has been held accountable for this so far.

The three STPs — with a capacity of treating 8.7 MLD (million litres per day), 5.7 MLD and 3.5 MLD of effluent — were commissioned by the Department of Water Supply and Sanitation at a cost of nearly Rs 15 crore. These were handed over to the Punjab Water Supply and Sewerage Board (PWSSB) in June 2021.

Sources in the PWSSB said these STPs were to be repaired under the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) project and tenders for the purpose were floated nine times. However, neither did any company apply for the work, nor could any firm fulfil the tender conditions.

Local social organisations have regularly appealed to the district administration to stop discharging untreated water into drains, water from which is being used to grow vegetables and fodder. Sham Lal Goyal, Muktsar district president of the National Consumer Awareness Group, said, “We have written several times to the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, but hardly any action has been taken till date.”

Sukhpal Singh, a resident of Bhagsar village, one of the villages the 36-km Chandbhan drain passes through, said, “The issue is very serious. This toxic water is polluting the environment.”

Rakesh Mohan Makkar, PWSSB site engineer, said, “The untreated water is being discharged directly into the Chandbhan drain, which eventually falls into the Sutlej.”

“The three STPs of Muktsar town are non-functional. These were to be repaired under AMRUT Phase I. However, private companies were not willing to operate and maintain these for the next five years at the laid down conditions,” said Makkar. “The conditions are now being revised and the detailed project report will be sent to the head office soon. The earlier estimated cost of Rs 9 crore may now be increased by 25 per cent.”

60K people affected

• Three STPs of Muktsar town with daily capacity of 17.9 MLD non-functional for six years
• Chandbhan drain affects 10 villages in Muktsar, 12 in Fazilka
• Roughly 60,000 people are affected in the two districts
• Chandbhan joins Fazilka’s Jalalabad Mauzam drain, which merges into the Sutlej

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