Punjab CM announces action plan to monitor pollution in Beas, Sutlej

CHANDIGARH:  Captain Amarinder Singh, Chief Minister of Punjab announced a comprehensive action plan on February 14, 2019 to check pollution in rivers Beas and Satluj. Online monitoring is among several actions planned by the state government to tackle the problem of river pollution.

The government plans to install CCTVs at different locations by December 31, 2019 to monitor Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) set up by the government and the industries causing pollution.

Kultar Singh Sandhwan, MLA of Kotkapura took up the issue of unchecked pollution in rivers. He said that the problem was reaching alarming proportions. He stated that the menace had led to the spread of life-threatening diseases like cancer, asthama, and other water-borne diseases, especially in Malwa areas.

CM said that a committee has been constituted under the chairmanship of the chief secretary for regular monitoring of the measures to control pollution of the river water.

As per the CM, urban and rural treated sewage will be used for irrigation and three Common Effluent Treatment Plants (CETPs) for the dyeing industries in Ludhiana will be commissioned by January 31, 2019. CEPTS of tanneries and leather complexes in Jalandhar will be upgraded by March 31, 2020. Effluent Treatment Plants (ETPs) will be set up for the dairy complexes of Ludhiana and Jalandhar, along with a bio-gas plant for dairy complex at Jalandhar, by September 30, 2021.

CM said that 11 STPs had already been installed in 19 towns and 12 new STPs will be set up in 10 towns by December 31, 2020. He outlined several measures undertaken for cleaning of river Sutlej, which included installation of 51 STPs in 27 towns to prevent sewage of these towns from being discharged into the river, with 33 STPs to be installed in 31 towns by December 31, 2021.