Zirakpur municipal council fails to check pollution in Sukhna Choe
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Chandigarh: The Zirakpur municipal council has failed to implement the recommendations made by the joint committee, headed by the Chandigarh deputy commissioner, to check pollution in Sukhna Choe.
In a report submitted to the National Green Tribunal (NGT), the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) highlighted oil and grease coming to the sewage treatment plant (STP) in Zirakpur every 15 days. The municipal council authorities are not complying with the provisions of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974.The PPCB directed the Zirakpur municipal council to operate its STP regularly and efficiently to achieve the prescribed standards at all times. The municipal council has been instructed not to pump wastewater from the main pumping station (MPS) beyond the existing capacity of the STP for smoother operation. The PPCB also directed that the construction of two additional STPs, proposed by the municipal council, should be completed. The municipal council must immediately identify the source of oil and grease entering the STP and submit a report to the PPCB with concrete measures to stop it.On Jan 27, the PPCB issued fresh directions to the Zirakpur municipal council to comply with the recommendations of the joint committee in a time-bound manner. The NGT, in an order dated July 11, 2024, constituted a joint committee headed by the Chandigarh deputy commissioner, with directions to submit a report on the pollution caused in Sukhna Choe. The joint committee submitted an interim report on Sept 30, 2024, wherein it was observed that the Sukhna Choe drain passes through various areas of Chandigarh and then joins the river Ghaggar at Zirakpur.Accordingly, the joint committee made various recommendations to the municipal council, Zirakpur, to prevent the dumping of solid waste and untreated effluent into the drain. The joint committee recommended that the municipal council carry out a survey and identify the spot area of the solid waste dumped into the Sukhna Choe, and an 'iron net' should be fitted along the drain to prevent the dumping of solid waste and construction and demolition (C&D) waste. It was also recommended that the municipal council ensure regular operation and maintenance of the existing sewage treatment plant (STP) with a capacity of 17.3 MLD.The PPCB was asked to issue directions to the municipal council Zirakpur to take corrective measures in a time-bound manner to ensure the operation and management of the STP, so there was no disposal of untreated effluent into the river Ghaggar. The NGT, in an order dated October 4, 2024, said, "Punjab and Haryana are directed to take remedial action as suggested by the joint committee and file an action taken report in this regard at least one week before the next date of hearing."Notably, the PPCB issued several directions to the municipal council Zirakpur after a hearing held on March 13, 2024, to prevent pollution in Sukhna Choe. "It was subsequently observed that the municipal council Zirakpur failed to comply with the directions of the hearing held on March 13, 2024," submitted the PPCB in its action taken report submitted to the NGT. On October 24, 2024, the municipal council Zirakpur was directed to plug the sewer line of the respective area and ensure requisite in-situ remediation treatment of untreated wastewater. Thereafter, in lieu of the non-compliance with the directions of the PPCB, the municipal council Zirakpur was served notice under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act. MSID:: 120999349 413 | Chandigarh: The Zirakpur municipal council has failed to implement the recommendations made by the joint committee, headed by the Chandigarh deputy commissioner, to check pollution in Sukhna Choe. In a report submitted to the National Green Tribunal (NGT), the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) highlighted oil and grease coming to the sewage treatment plant (STP) in Zirakpur every 15 days. The municipal council authorities are not complying with the provisions of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974.The PPCB directed the Zirakpur municipal council to operate its STP regularly and efficiently to achieve the prescribed standards at all times. The municipal council has been instructed not to pump wastewater from the main pumping station (MPS) beyond the existing capacity of the STP for smoother operation. The PPCB also directed that the construction of two additional STPs, proposed by the municipal council, should be completed. The municipal council must immediately identify the source of oil and grease entering the STP and submit a report to the PPCB with concrete measures to stop it.On Jan 27, the PPCB issued fresh directions to the Zirakpur municipal council to comply with the recommendations of the joint committee in a time-bound manner. The NGT, in an order dated July 11, 2024, constituted a joint committee headed by the Chandigarh deputy commissioner, with directions to submit a report on the pollution caused in Sukhna Choe. The joint committee submitted an interim report on Sept 30, 2024, wherein it was observed that the Sukhna Choe drain passes through various areas of Chandigarh and then joins the river Ghaggar at Zirakpur.Accordingly, the joint committee made various recommendations to the municipal council, Zirakpur, to prevent the dumping of solid waste and untreated effluent into the drain. The joint committee recommended that the municipal council carry out a survey and identify the spot area of the solid waste dumped into the Sukhna Choe, and an 'iron net' should be fitted along the drain to prevent the dumping of solid waste and construction and demolition (C&D) waste. It was also recommended that the municipal council ensure regular operation and maintenance of the existing sewage treatment plant (STP) with a capacity of 17.3 MLD.The PPCB was asked to issue directions to the municipal council Zirakpur to take corrective measures in a time-bound manner to ensure the operation and management of the STP, so there was no disposal of untreated effluent into the river Ghaggar. The NGT, in an order dated October 4, 2024, said, "Punjab and Haryana are directed to take remedial action as suggested by the joint committee and file an action taken report in this regard at least one week before the next date of hearing."Notably, the PPCB issued several directions to the municipal council Zirakpur after a hearing held on March 13, 2024, to prevent pollution in Sukhna Choe. "It was subsequently observed that the municipal council Zirakpur failed to comply with the directions of the hearing held on March 13, 2024," submitted the PPCB in its action taken report submitted to the NGT. On October 24, 2024, the municipal council Zirakpur was directed to plug the sewer line of the respective area and ensure requisite in-situ remediation treatment of untreated wastewater. Thereafter, in lieu of the non-compliance with the directions of the PPCB, the municipal council Zirakpur was served notice under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act. MSID:: 120999349 413 |
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Contribute now Twenty-four years ago, while the rest of India was racing to open up 18 virgin peaks and 176 lesser-known summits to foreign climbers, the Sikkim government, through notification 70/HOME/2000, imposed a ban on expeditions to its highest peak, Kanchenjunga, along with seven other peaks considered sacred by local Buddhists. This administrative decision was actually the reaffirmation of a longstanding cultural tradition of reverence. In fact, an expedition to Kangchenjunga would fall under the scope of the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991, which prohibits any desecration of sites held sacred. When British climbers Joe Brown and George Band first successfully ascended Kangchenjunga in 1955, they voluntarily stopped just short of the summit to honour local sentiments. Their act of restraint was more than a display of mountaineering ethics. It was a profound gesture of civilisational respect. 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