AMRITSAR, Punjab: Dr Inderbir Singh Nijjar, Minister of Local Government, Government of Punjab, said that the state government of Punjab has decided that a rejuvenation project for Tung Dhab drain in Amritsar needs to be introduced in line with the Buddha Nullah project.
While chairing a meeting of urban and rural committees formed to clean drains, the minister said, to make the state pollution-free more attention should be given to cleaning rivers, streams and seasonal drains.
Addressing the issue of Tung Dhab drain, the minister said that the project should consist of three parts, with each part dealing with the industrial, dairy and domestic waste sectors separately.
The minister observed that there are around 39 industries situated alongside the 20 km drain that passes through the city. Out of these 39 industries, 19 discharge around 28 megaliters per day (MLD) of waste in a day. Household waste from 17 villages is also dumped in the drain. Additionally, 176 dairy industry releases 550 kilo litres per day (KLD) waste along with livestock and other animal dung into the Tang Dhab drain.
Dr Nijjar directed the officials of the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) to prevent industrial and other toxic waste from being discharged into the drain by keeping a close eye on these industries. He added that Common Effluent Treatment Plants (CETPs) should be set up if required. Apart from that, the minister also directed officials of Punjab Small Industries and Export Corporation (PSIEC) to begin the process of land allocation to PPCB, to set up CETP and Punjab Water Supply and Sewerage Board to expand the existing two sewage treatment plants (STPs) in the city. The officials of municipal corporations and the rural development department were instructed to collect cow and other cattle dung from dairies in and outside the city, thus preventing it from being dumped in the drain. The minister also asked the officials to work on a proposal to set up a biogas plant to utilise this dairy waste.