The NGT sought responses from 2 senior Uttarakhand officials
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Monday asked the Environment and Urban Development Secretaries of Uttarakhand to provide information about the steps taken to comply with the Supreme Court’s directions on setting up sewage treatment plants.
The NGT was hearing a case related to spillage of sewage into Alaknanda river due to inadequate sewage treatment plants (STP) in Badrinath. During the hearing, the NGT has also asked the state officials to find out the amount of sewage generated daily in Badrinath.
Current STP capacity not sufficient: NGT
Recently, a bench of NGT chairman Justice Prakash Srivastava said that as per the report submitted by Uttarakhand Pollution Control Board and Uttarakhand Drinking Water Corporation in this regard, there are only two STPs present, with a capacity of 0.23 million liters per day (MLD). and an M.L.D.
The bench said in this regard, “The existing STP capacity does not appear to be adequate and there is a huge gap. Also, untreated sewage can flow into the river. Apart from this, the quantity of sewage water coming daily in both the STPs has not been disclosed.
Both officers to appear in next hearing: NGT
“The released effluent results show that there has been partial leakage from the storage tank and the waste water is being discharged directly into the Alaknanda river,” the NGT said. The bench also took into account the submission of an official of Uttarakhand Jal Nigam that no project or proposal for setting up of additional STPs is currently under consideration.
The bench said that the Supreme Court in July 2017 had set a three-year deadline for setting up STPs and the responsibility of ensuring this was also given to the state environment secretary by the country’s top court.
The NGT in its order said, “We want the State Urban Development Secretary and Environment Secretary to appear at the next hearing (October 13) and inform about the steps taken to comply with the Supreme Court order. Also, clearly explain the amount of daily sewage generation, keeping in mind the daily visiting tourists and the local population. “We have also taken note of the fact that no satisfactory information has been provided regarding solid waste management,” the tribunal said.
