Waste water from septic tanks dumped into Yamuna: CPCB

The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has directed Delhi Jal Board (DJB) to set up a vigilance system to check illegal discharge of waste water from septic tanks into the Yamuna, and penalise violators.

The move comes after a joint team of officials from CPCB and Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) stumbled upon tankers disposing waste water from septic tanks directly into the floodplains. The team, which was inspecting the floodplains last month, also identified drains discharging waste water from scattered habitations in Jagatpur Khadar village and Milan Vihar among others.

“The National Green Tribunal (NGT)-appointed Yamuna pollution monitoring committee had asked the CPCB and FSSAI to conduct a study to find out whether vegetables grown along the Yamuna are toxic. The team had gone there to collect the samples when they found these illegal activities,” said a CPCB official.

On February 4, HT had reported that Delhi government would launch a drive to dissuade farming on the “toxic” Yamuna floodplains. Based on this, the monitoring committee had asked the CPCB and National Environmental Engineering Research Institute to conduct independent studies on vegetables grown along the river. Later, the committee had asked CPCB and FSSAI to conduct a study.

In its letter to the DJB on May 1, the CPCB said that during the joint inspections carried out in April, scattered habitations were found on the floodplains between Palla and Wazirabad where such illegal activities were spotted.

The CPCB asked DJB to plan sewage management system of scattered colonies such as Jagatpur Khadar village and Milan Vihar and submit an action plan and a report by May 20. “Discharge of untreated waste water disposing of into Yamuna makes water unfit to meet the primary water quality criteria — bathing quality,” the letter added.

The DJB’s vice chairman was unavailable for comment.

Manoj Misra of Yamuna Jiye Abhiyan said, “It is unfortunate. But it is good that the government would be taking some action.”