The H.P. State Pollution Control Board has asked the Principal Secretary (Urban Development) and Secretary (Jal Shakti Vibhag) to the Govt. of Himachal Pradesh to intervene in the matter regarding persisted non-compliance of sewage treatment plants (STP) being operated by the Shimla Jal Prabandhan Nigam (SJPNL) and Jal Shakti Vibhag.
The SJPNL has established and are operating 06 STPs of cumulative installed capacity 26.06 MLD. Up-gradation process of these STPs as per timelines established in Action Plan prepared during 2020 in compliance of the Hon’ble NGT order in O.A. No. 673 of 2018 for Rejuvenation of Polluted River Stretch of Ashwani is ongoing. SJPNL had also proposed construction of a new STP at Panthaghati to bridge the gap in the treatment of sewage and Phytoremediation works in the catchment of Ashwani Khad, which is yet to commence.
Similarly the Jal Shakti Vibhag has established and are operating 70 STPs of cumulative installed capacity 99.97 MLD in different parts of the State covering major urban areas. The Board is regularly inspecting, monitoring and conducting sampling of treated waste water, and taking regulatory action where required. To comply with directions of the Hon’ble NGT, Action Plans for the Rejuvenation of 07 Polluted River Stretches in State namely River Sukhna , River Sirsa, River Markanda, River Beas, River Ashwani, River Giri and River Pabbar were formulated during the year 2019-20 and several actionable points pertaining to JSV & SJPNL are required to be expedited.
Sanjay Gupta, IAS, Chairman, H.P. State Pollution Control Board has directed the respective departments to intervene in the matter regarding improper operation/functioning of these non-complying STPs and expedite the process of modification, up-gradation, expansion and construction of STPs to bridge the gap in sewage treatment in the State on priority. As improper operation of existing STPs as well as slow progress in augmentation of sewage management system is impacting water quality of rivers/natural aquatic resources of the State. The Chairman is monitoring the above issues closely and shall hold review meetings in this regard in the near future.
