The most recent plan for rejuvenation of river Hindon, ready by the Ghaziabad administration on instructions of the state authorities, has spelt out the assorted polluting sources affecting the water high quality, together with untapped drains, non-compliant industrial items and low capability utilisation of sewage remedy crops.
Final 12 months, the state authorities directed officers of the Saharanpur and the Meerut divisions to chalk out a plan for reviving the dying Hindon, which had change into a large stinking drain with its polluted waters have additionally contaminated the groundwater in a number of villages in western Uttar Pradesh districts.
The river originates from Saharanpur and culminates in river Yamuna close to Momnathal in Higher Noida. In Ghaziabad, it spans a distance of 55 kilometres and unfold over an space of about 60.766 hectares.
In response to the rejuvenation plan, the Ghaziabad district has eight untapped and one partially tapped drains emptying into the river. These embrace 5 drains that carry blended (industrial and residential discharge) and three that carry home discharge apart from one completely carrying industrial discharge. They run by Arthala, Karhera, Dasna, Meerut Street, Sahibabad, Jawli, Indirapuram, Pratap Vihar and Hindon Vihar earlier than emptying into the river.
In response to officers, the river receives about 351.04MLD (million litres per day) discharge, together with 336MLD of sewage discharge.
“The revival plan, chalked out by the Saharanpur and Meerut divisions, particulars the assorted sources affecting the river. It additionally lists a number of short- and long-term measures. The short-term measures embrace dredging, bio-remediation of drain water, plantation and different works for which needed directions have been issued to departments. For the long-term, the state authorities will present funds as there’s a big funding concerned,” mentioned Vikramaditya Malik, chief improvement officer (CDO) of Ghaziabad.
“Completely different companies have additionally been requested to arrange mission stories for tapping drains and to make sure that polluting items adjust to recycling norms,” the CDO mentioned.
The plan has additionally highlighted 222 completely different items corresponding to tanneries, slaughterhouses, distilleries, textile items, pulp and paper mills, sugar mills and others that contribute about 15.4MLD of the whole discharge in Hindon. About 61 of those items will not be complying with air pollution management norms.
“We’ve already began the enforcement measures and common inspection is being executed to make sure that items solely let loose handled water,” mentioned Utsav Sharma, regional officer, Uttar Pradesh Air pollution Management Board.
The district additionally has eight sewage remedy crops — three at Indirapuram, two at Dundahera and one every of Govindpuram, Morti and Madhuban Bapudham. In response to the report, these crops have a mixed put in capability of 480MLD whereas their current capability utilisation is about 336MLD.
In addition to the eight STPs, the district additionally has two widespread effluent remedy crops in Loni with an put in capability of seven.8MLD however their capability utilisation is zero.
“Efforts are on to make sure that the STPs work at full capability and a number of the STPs having low capability utilisation is because of indisputable fact that sufficient inhabitants haven’t moved to those residential pockets and the outflow of sewage is low. As soon as extra folks transfer into these areas over a time frame, the STP capability can be absolutely utilised,” mentioned Rakesh Kumar Gupta, chief engineer, Ghaziabad Improvement Authority.
Environmentalists mentioned completely different state governments previously have tried to revive the river however in useless.
“The river rejuvenation (together with its two tributaries – Krishni and Kali) want a powerful will, unified plan, strategy and funds which may run into 1000’s of crores. An audit of earlier funds diverted for river rejuvenation also needs to want an audit. River’s demarcation and restoration are additionally a should for sustainable stream,” mentioned Akash Vashishtha, a city-based environmentalist.
“The water our bodies positioned alongside the river stretches want rapid revival and have to be made freed from encroachments. As soon as these are revived, the river will obtain extra water. Plantation alongside the river boundaries and public consciousness can be a should together with finishing up the plan in timebound method,” mentioned Vikrant Sharma, one other city-based environmentalist.