Urban Development And Housing department Secretary Ajoy Kumar Singh today inspected the beatification work of Harmu River and asked the officials to set up more sewerage treatment plants (STP) to be set uo on the banks of the river in order to stop filthy water enter the river. The Secretary gave necessary instructions and suggestions to JUIDCO and Eagle Infra officials and also rapped some officials for their lethargic attitude towards work.
The Secretary said that the purpose behind beatification of the river was to make its water clean so that people can take a walk on its banks. He told the officials that the river is being polluted by filthy water from drains from across the city. He, therefore, asked the officials to set up more STPs so that the water can be cleaned.
Singh also inspected the Ghaghra Ghat of Swarnrekha River and instructed to set up an STP at the juncture of Swarnrekha and Harmu rivers. He asked the officials to put up gratings on all the drains meeting the Harmu River within a month and clean the water by STPs before it reaches the river.
He asked them to adopt conventional processes also apart from the natural process to clean the water of the river. He said that the two pathways need to be connected from Swarnrekha to Harmu Vidyanagar. If needed bridge or underpass could be made for crossing railway lines and roads, he added.
The Secretary also asked officials to set up Biogas plants near cattle sites to stop waste material going directly to the river. He also asked them to ensure regular cleaning of the river and use required manpower for the same. Singh instructed for plantation on both pathways on the river.
Work on rejuvenation of the river is going on speedily. So far work has been done on 8.5 kms and as per the old plan seven out of the eight STPs have started working.
JUIDCO project director (technical) SK Sahu alongwith several other officials were present during the inspection.