Photo Source: Babushahi Bureau
MP Satnam Sandhu raises issue of rejuvenation of Ghaggar and other rivers in Punjab in Parliament
Union Govt sanctions Rs 57.11 crore for conservation of Ghaggar river, Rs 483 crore for conservation of Satluj and Beas river
Babushahi Bureau
New Delhi, December 11, 2024: The Union Government has released Rs 57.11 Crore as part of the pollution abatement schemes for the conservation of the Ghaggar River and released Rs 483.53 Crore as central share for the conservation of Satluj and Beas rivers under the National River Conservation Plan (NRCP).
This was stated by Minister of State for Jal Shakti in response to a question asked by Rajya Sabha MP Satnam Singh Sandhu during the on-going winter session in Parliament.
Stating further, the Jal Shakti Minister in a written reply said that the sewage treatment capacity of 648 MLD was also created under NRCP for these rivers.
An amount of Rs 32.61 crore was released as part of Central share for implementation of these schemes and additional sewage treatment capacity of 15 million litres per day (MLD) was created.
Raising the issue of rejuvenation of rivers in Punjab, Rajya Sabha MP Satnam Singh Sandhu in his question asked in the parliament sought details regarding steps taken by the government to rejuvenate and detoxify Ghaggar River, grants provided to Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan to clean the river and steps taken by the government for rejuvenation of all rivers in Punjab.
In a written reply, Minister of State for Jal Shakti, Raj Bhushan Choudhary stated, “As per the data shared by Punjab Pollution Control Board with the union government regarding the works being carried out for the treatment of waste water from the towns falling in the catchment of Ghaggar river, 28 STPs with a total capacity 291.7 MLD have been installed and 15 STPs of 97 MLD are in different stages of implementation. Under NRCP, pollution abatement schemes for conservation of Ghaggar river in Punjab were sanctioned at a total cost of Rs 57.11 crore. An amount of Rs.32.61 crore was released as part of Central share for implementation of these schemes, and sewage treatment capacity of 15 million litres per day (MLD) was created.”
Sharing details regarding rejuvenation of other rivers in Punjab, the minister said, “For conservation of Satluj and Beas rivers in Punjab, Rs 483.53 crore was released as central government share and sewage treatment capacity of 648 MLD was created under NRCP. In order to address pollution concerns of Satluj river due to discharge of Buddha Nallah, the Punjab government has undertaken Buddha Nallah Rejuvenation project which included setting up of STPs 225 MLD and 60 MLD capacity, rehabilitation of four STPs, two effluent treatment plants of capacity 3.75 MLD and 2.25 MLD for treatment of waste water from dairy complexes in Ludhiana. Also, to prevent and control of industrial discharge from clusters of small and medium scale dyeing industries in Ludhiana, Common Effluent Treatment Plants of capacity 40 MLD, 50 MLD and 15 MLD have been made operational.”
Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha) Satnam Singh Sandhu said, “Punjab is a land of many rivers that have been flowing for centuries but in the past few decades these rivers have been rendered polluted. Owing to rising pollution level due to the heavy presence of toxic effluents in water bodies of Punjab which has already assumed alarming proportions not only caused several health hazards such as cancer, skin diseases, gastroenteritis, indigestion and loss of eyesight among other diseases but has also made the water unfit (poisonous) for irrigation and affecting aquatic life adversely. Moreover, cultivable land in many parts of the state have been rendered barren.”
Sandhu added, “The slew of measures undertaken by the Union government for the rejuvenation and conservation of rivers of Punjab are indeed praiseworthy. Union government’s resolute commitment to the cause of conservation and rejuvenation of rivers in the country can be gauged from the fact that for the first time in entire history of 75 years of independent India, the government has formed a separate ministry by the name of Ministry of Jal Shakti by combining Ministry of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation and Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation in 2019 and in the last few years cleaning and rejuvenation of the scared river Ganga among other rivers in the country has become a national mission. But as a society as well as individuals, we all must support the efforts of the government to protect our rivers and industry in particular must come forward to supplement these efforts of the government for the conservation of our water bodies so that the menace of river pollution can be annihilate completely.”
“Ghaggar river holds utmost importance for the people of Punjab and Haryana. Union government’s rejuvenation projects for Ghaggar, Satluj and Beas rivers would not only be instrumental in flood mitigation but they would go a long way increasing the farm productivity in the region,” added Sandhu.