Fazilka, September 26
A panel of the National Green Tribunal (NGT), led by Punjab and Haryana High Court Justice (retd) Jasbir Singh, visited sewage treatment plants (STPs) of Fazilka district today to take on stock of situation to overcome the problem of water pollution and waste water management in the district.
Former Chief Secretary SC Aggarwal, environmentalist Balbir Singh Seechewal and technical expert Babu Ram were also present.
Justice Singh warned the officials concerned to abide by NGT instructions to clean contaminated water and said no untreated water should be allowed to flow into the drains. He said the councils which fail to abide by the instructions shall have to pay a penalty. He directed the Punjab Pollution Control Board officials to ensure quality of water from of sewage treatment plant and said only treated water should be allowed to be supplied to fields for agriculture purposes. He directed to expedite completion of under construction STPs.
Aggarwal exhorted the residents to set up rainwater harvesting system in every village to improve the quality of sub-soil water. It is stated that untreated water from neighbouring five districts is being flown into drain which pollutes sub-soil water, resulting in spread of several diseases in border villages.
Notably, a farmer, Vikram Ahuja, had filed a petition before the NGT two years ago and claimed that sub-soil water in nearly 132 villages of the border district had become unfit for human consumption and agriculture purposes, as untreated water of major drains flows to Fazilka — a low lying area. In response, the NGT had constituted a panel. — OC
Ensure discharge of treated water into drains: NGT panel
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