Pollution department seeks more time for sewage disposal plan

The Haryana state pollution control board (HSPCB), Gurgaon, has sought time from the National Green Tribunal ( NGT) to come up with a suitable solution for sewage disposal in the city till July-end.

The last date of hearing was June 8.

“The NGT has granted us time and we are working day and night. We have kept all other work aside and are looking for the best and permanent solution to treat sewer water and its disposal,” said a senior HSPCB official, adding that the coordination with other departments are fast underway in this regard.

The Haryana Urban Development Authority (Huda) and the Municipal Corporation of Gurgaon (MCG) have assigned its engineering wings to find a suitable plot of land to set up the sewage treatment plants (STPs). The engineers are also identifying the sites and sources where the sewer water is getting mixed with storm drains and flow untreated to Yamuna river via Najafgarh.

A senior Huda official told Hindustan Times that sewer water is getting mixed with the Badshahpur drain at several locations of villages and unauthorised colonies and effluents from some factories at Sector 37 as well.

Officials from the pollution department have also warned the Huda and MCG to fix the problem and find a site for the STPs.

“We have to submit the report in the NGT without any excuse, at least we can convince the court that we have found the sites for STPs and ensure no untreated sewer water will flow into the Yamuna river, which has been the main concern of the NGT,” said the HSPCB official.

Gurgaon generates nearly 250 MLD (million litres per day) sewage waste but city’s total treating capacity is 118 MLD while the rest goes untreated to Yamuna via Badshahpur and the Najafgarh drain, which carries city’s 80% sewage.

NGT had, in 2013, ordered the Haryana government to set up adequate STPs in Gurgaon to meet daily sewage disposal requirements.