Panipat’s untreated waste flows freely as Yamuna pays the price

Water pollution has become a major concern for the government. Several environmentalists have raised their voices against the pollution of the Yamuna, and many matters are pending in this regard with the National Green Tribunal (NGT).

A joint team of the CM flying squad and Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB) had recently impounded two tractor-tankers for discharging untreated effluents into Drain 2 in the Kurad area.

This is not an isolated incident — the illegal disposal of untreated industrial effluents is a common practice in Panipat.

Industrialists, especially those with factories in Bapoli and Sanoli, can often be spotted discharging untreated effluent through tractor-tankers into Drain 2, which merges with the Yamuna and is a major cause of the river being polluted.

n How are Panipat drains

polluting the Yamuna?

Two drains flow in Panipat district (urban and rural). Drain 1 is around 8 km. It starts from the Kabri road and ends at the Chautala road, where it meets Drain 2, which merges with the Yamuna near Khojkipur village. Untreated waste has been polluting both drains. The Yamuna enters Panipat from Rana Majra village and traverses 33 km to Rakshera village, beyond which it flows to Sonepat district.

Panipat is a textile hub, and over 400 registered dyeing units operate here, in addition to the hundreds of illegal dyeing units and bleaching houses. Many of these are situated near the drains.

Most of these illegal bleaching and dyeing units discharge untreated effluents directly into the drains through sewage lines or tractor-tankers.

n How are norms being violated?

The Haryana CID prepared a report regarding the pollution of these drains last year. As per environmental norms, it is mandatory for all industrialists to install effluent treatment plants in their units. However, several industrialists of the area store untreated chemical waste at their factories, only to dispose of it into the drains at night, with the help of some residents of adjoining villages.

n What do recent reports reveal?

The HSPCB had collected water samples from Khojkipur — where Drain 2 and the Yamuna merge. These samples failed multiple laboratory tests, revealing severe pollution levels. As per recent reports, the biological oxygen demand (BOD) at the sampling point was recorded at 60 mg/l, far above the prescribed limit of less than 3 mg/l. The chemical oxygen demand (COD), ideally zero, was found to be 300 mg/l, and total dissolved solids (TDS) crossed 2,000 mg/l, against a safe limit of 650 mg/l.

n Has action been

taken against violators?

Disposing of highly hazardous chemical effluents not only pollutes the Yamuna, but also causes health issues for residents of adjoining villages. No concrete action has been initiated against violators in Panipat, purely due to the lack of coordination between the Irrigation Department and the HSPCB. Safeguarding water bodies is the responsibility of the Irrigation Department, while initiating action against violators of environment norms is the responsibility of the HSPCB.

As per reports, the HSPCB has impounded eight tractor-tankers for discharging untreated effluents in drains so far this year.

Haryana Tribune