No visible progress on action plan formulated on NGT directives
*Several vital aspects yet to receive due attention
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Oct 19: Vast stretch of River Tawi, which is also known as Surya Putri, will remain polluted for unspecified period as there is no visible progress on the Action Plan formulated by the Government in compliance to the directions issued by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) last year.
Official sources told EXCELSIOR that in reference to National Green Tribunal judgment dated September 20, 2018 polluted stretches of nine rivers—five in Jammu and four in Kashmir valley were identified by the Central Pollution Control Board as per the data furnished by the State Pollution Control Board.
Thereafter, in compliance to another direction of the NGT, Action Plan was formulated by the State Government for restoration of water quality. As far as River Tawi is concerned, the identified polluted stretch is 5 kilometres from Surajpur to Belicharana as it doesn’t meet the standard norms of classification of streams under Designated Best Use (DBU).
This stretch has been rendered polluted by disposal of untreated sewage waste from Jammu city, unabated disposal of municipal solid waste, dumping of construction and demolition waste and pollution from minor and major establishments.
The sewage to the tune of 75 MLD being generated by Jammu city is the main cause of pollution in River Tawi as the same is discharged into it without treatment through 13 nullahs/main drains falling on right bank of river and five nullahs along the left bank.
“However, despite lapse of several months there is no discernible progress on the Action Plan, which is required to be implemented by several agencies by working in close coordination with each other”, sources said, adding “because of dilly-dallying approach on the Action Plan vast stretch of River Tawi will remain polluted for unspecified period even after its identification for necessary preventive measures”.
They informed that only a fraction of the total sewage waste is being treated at Bhagwati Nagar in two Sewage Treatment Plants although much thrust has been laid in the Action Plan on up-gradation/repair of STP of 10 MLD capacity. “The UEED floated tenders under Languishing Projects Scheme for this purpose but there is no response till date while as 30 MLD STP was recently taken over by UEED from ERA”, sources added.
In the Action Plan, stress has also been laid on installation of STP of SBR technology for the areas on left side of River Tawi and installation of sewer lines in Bahu Fort, Gorkha Nagar, Qasim Nagar and Rajiv Nagar areas.
“Though some progress has been made on laying of network yet alignment had to be changed due to objections from the Jammu Development Authority. Due to this the project is unlikely to meet the deadline of December 2019 fixed in the Action Plan”, sources said.
Pointing towards municipal solid waste, sources said, “no-doubt Jammu Municipal Corporation has shifted dumping site from Bhagwati Nagar to Kot Bhalwal on the directions of the State High Court but scientific treatment plant is nowhere in sight. Moreover, big heaps and dumps of municipal solid waste can still be seen in many areas near River Tawi”.
The Municipal Corporation has even failed to ensure bioremediation of old dumping site at Bhagwati Nagar on the bank of River Tawi even after much thrust on this aspect in the Action Plan as well as directions from the State High Court. “Even no facility has been set up for dumping of material from construction and demolition activities, which otherwise is one of the causes for pollution of Tawi River”, sources said.
They informed that several important aspects of the Action Plan like separate Sewage Treatment Plant for housing colonies, housing societies and major banquet halls have yet not received due attention of the concerned authorities till date although proper strategy is required to be chalked out well in time to give practical shape to the same.
“Similarly, establishment of Effluent Treatment Plants of different capacities for scientific handling of biomedical waste being generated by healthcare establishments is on papers only because of non-serious approach on the part of Health and Medical Education Department”, sources said.
“The dilly-dallying approach on major points of Action Plan clearly indicates that vast stretch of River Tawi will remain polluted and directions of NGT will remain unimplemented for unspecified period”, they added.
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