To make Punjab and its rivers and streams pure and clean, the Chief Secretary Vijay Kumar Janjua on Monday directed all departments concerned with controlling water and air pollution to work on a war footing.
Reiterating the Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s commitment to make a pollution-free environment in the state, the Chief Secretary reviewed the discharge of sewage and effluents and disposal of solid and plastic waste in the State.
While reviewing the water pollution of rivers due to discharge of sewage and effluents, the Local Government Department apprised that out of 111 STPs of about 785 MLD capacity proposed to be set up in the State, the work in 53 STPs (617.5 MLD) is already in progress.
All the 111 STPs are likely to be made functional by December 31, 2023, and the State would be able to achieve the desired quality in the rivers.
As far as pollution of river Sutlej is concerned, the two STPs at Jamalpur (225 MLD) and Balloke (60 MLD) are likely to be completed by March 31, 2023. Further, the Common Effluent Treatment Plants of 40 MLD and 50 MLD capacity for the treatment of Textile Dying Effluents at Ludhiana have already been commissioned.
Regarding the treatment of dairy effluents in Ludhiana, the work for setting up of the Compressed Bio Gas Plant to treat 300 tons per day of cow dung has been awarded. Further, there is a plan to set up one more Bio Gas Plant at Haibowal Dairy Complex which will handle around 200 Tons per day of Cow dung.
Regarding the treatment of Liquid Waste being generated from Tajpur and Haibowal Dairy Complexes, the work on setting up of two ETPs is under progress and is likely to be completed by March 31, 2023.
In the meeting, Rural Development and Panchayats Department informed the Committee that the work of rejuvenation of ponds has been completed in 860 villages and is under progress in 515 villages.
The Chief Secretary was appraised by Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) that the State is strictly enforcing the ban on single use plastic items as per the directions of the Union Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change, Govt. of India. A State Level function had also been organized under the guidance of Chief Minister and Science Technology and Environment Minister on August 5, 2022, for creating awareness among public.
The Chief Secretary was also apprised that Solid Waste Management, door-to-door collection and segregation of waste at source has been started. Further, around 8,250 compost pits have been constructed for the management of wet waste and 266 material recovery facilities have been set up for the management of dry waste.
Regarding the Bio-remediation of old dump sites, it was informed that the work in 114 ULBs is to be completed by December 31, 2022; 32 ULBs by March 31, 2023; and two ULBs by March 31, 2024. The Local Government Department has also set up micro units in 139 ULBs for the processing of construction and demolition waste. A 60 TPD Plant has also been commissioned at MC, Jalandhar.