Seechewal detects non-operational sewerage plants

Environmentalist Balbir Singh Seechewal, on Monday evening, visited the sewerage treatment plant at the Leather Complex and discovered that the two sewerage plants at the facility were simply not being used.

Environmentalist Balbir Singh Seechewal, on Monday evening, visited the sewerage treatment plant at the Leather Complex and discovered that the two sewerage plants at the facility were simply not being used. Industries were releasing all untreated water and effluents into the Kala Sanghian drain. Seechewal was accompanied by his followers and Sant Daya Singh.

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"We had received complaints of negligence by the industrial units at the Leather Complex. This issue had been raised in the meetings with the Punjab Pollution Control Board. In the last meeting with chief minister Parkash Singh Badal, we were assured that this would stop, but apparently nothing has been done," said Seechewal while speaking with HT.

Seechewal then called up the local pollution control officer on telephone, directing him to reach the spot and witness the grave violation.

Executive engineer Manohar Lal Chohan visited the site. "I had detected the irregularities a few days ago and the matter was also brought to the notice of the PPCB chairman. It is the duty of Punjab Effluents Treatment Society (PETS) to operate these sewerage plants and it has been asked to submit it explanation before the chairman on April 22."

The treatment plants at the complex have a capacity of 1.5MLD (million litres a day) and 5MLD.
"Such toxic and polluted water is being released in the drain. This is like fedding poison with the lives of people. This should be stopped," Seechewal said.