Chandigarh: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA from Ropar Dinesh Chadha has raised concerns over the alleged discharge of untreated industrial waste and sewage from Himachal Pradesh’s Baddi-Barotiwala-Nalagarh (BBN) industrial belt into the Sirsa River, which ultimately flows into the Sutlej River.Chadha said, “During a visit to the Baddi area, our team found several local drains and rivulets carrying industrial waste into the Sirsa River. Pharmaceutical waste, acids and other industrial effluents are being discharged through drains at various locations. This industrial waste eventually reaches the Sirsa and then the Sutlej, directly affecting Punjab’s water resources and contributing to the spread of cancer.”Chadha claimed that the BBN industrial belt has around 2,200 industries. Of these, nearly 1,000 generate liquid waste, while only about 377 units send their effluent to the Common Effluent Treatment Plant (CETP). More than 600 industries are allegedly discharging effluent into drains instead of sending it for proper treatment, he said, adding that Baddi’s sewage treatment infrastructure is inadequate.“Baddi has an officially recorded population of about 2.2 lakh, while the actual population is estimated to be around 4 lakh because of the large migrant and industrial workforce. Even for the officially recorded population, the sewage treatment requirement is estimated at around 32 MLD (million litres per day), against which only a 5 MLD sewage treatment plant is currently operational. Waste at the Shivalik Solid Waste Management facility in Majra is also facing opposition from local residents and is not being adequately treated,” he said.Chadha said the issue had already reached the National Green Tribunal (NGT) through a petition filed by him, and the tribunal had sought responses from the governments of Himachal Pradesh and Haryana. He said the Sutlej’s water is used in Punjab for both drinking and irrigation purposes, making pollution entering the river from upstream a serious concern.Urging the governments of Himachal Pradesh, Haryana and the Centre to act immediately, the AAP MLA said, “Immediate action must be taken against the discharge of untreated industrial waste and sewage, and the industrial effluent generated in the BBN belt must be properly treated before disposal.” He also called for the creation of adequate sewage treatment infrastructure in Baddi.
