Central Pollution Control Board's report identified five stretches on water bodies in Punjab as polluted, Rajya Sabha told
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The stretches are located on the Ghaggar, Satluj, Sirsa (a tributary of Satluj), Swan (a tributary of Satluj), and Kali Bein (a tributary of Beas).
In a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha, the minister stated that it is the primary responsibility of states, UTs, and local bodies to ensure the treatment of sewage and industrial effluents before discharging them into water bodies or land to prevent and control pollution.
For the conservation of rivers and tributaries, the jal shakti ministry is supplementing the efforts of the states and UTs with the implementation of the National River Conservation Plan (NRCP) on a cost-sharing basis, the minister said.
Under the NRCP, pollution abatement schemes for the conservation of the Ghaggar were sanctioned at Rs 57.11 crore, and a sewage treatment capacity of 15 million litres per day (MLD) created.
The minister said, according to data from the Punjab Pollution Control Board, 28 STPs with a total capacity of 291.7 MLD have been set up in the Ghaggar river catchment area, and 15 STPs with a capacity of 97 MLD are in different stages of implementation.
For the conservation of the Sutlej and Beas under the NRCP, pollution abatement works were sanctioned at Rs 717.32 crores, and a sewage treatment capacity of 648 MLD was created.
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To address pollution concerns of the Satluj due to the discharge of Buddha Nallah, which carries municipal, industrial, dairy, and other wastes from Ludhiana town, the Punjab govt has undertaken the Buddha Nallah rejuvenation project. The project included setting up sewage treatment plants (STPs) of 225 million litres per day (MLD) at Jamalpur and 60 MLD at Balloke, rehabilitation of four STPs - 111 MLD and 50 MLD at Bhattian and 152 MLD and 105 MLD at Balloke, and two effluent treatment plants of capacity 3.75 MLD and 2.25 MLD for the treatment of wastewater from Haibowal and Tajpur Road dairy complexes.
Balbir Singh Seechewal, a Rajya Sabha member from Punjab, asked about the measures being implemented to address the pollution levels in the Satluj, Beas, Ravi, and other rivers in Punjab. He inquired whether there are any targeted projects or interventions in place to restore and rejuvenate these rivers, particularly concerning wastewater discharge and industrial effluents, and the plan of the ministry to involve local communities, industries, and stakeholders in sustainable river management and conservation efforts.
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