Treatment plant samples from Barhi are failing once again
The last two years have seen noncompliance at the 16 MLD common effluent treatment plant (CETP) located in the industrial zone of the Haryana State Industrial Infrastructure and Development Corporation (HSIIDC) in Barhi. Consequently, drain No. 6, which empties into the Yamuna, is purportedly receiving sewage released by red category enterprises.
In the last two years, every sample that the Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB) has gathered has failed laboratory testing. In addition to proposing an environmental compensation (EC) of Rs 1.94 crore on behalf of the HSIIDC and the contractor firm, the Regional Officer (RO) of HSPCB, Sonepat, has also requested that 13 individuals, including directors of the company and HSIIDC officials, be prosecuted in an environment court.
Environmentalist Varun Gulati, located in Delhi, has also filed a complaint with higher authorities about the effluents being dumped into the Barhi drain, which is the primary cause of the Yamuna’s pollution.
According to the report, the HSPCB crew took samples from the CETP’s ultimate discharging point and the pump house run by the HSIIDC. All parameters were determined to be over the recommended limits.
From March 2022 to December 31, 2023, it collected samples from the CETP’s ultimate discharge into the sewer once again. All of the samples were found to be beyond the allowed limits.
The Senior Manager of HSIIDC, Barhi, has received 15 show-cause letters from the HSPCB, along with environmental compensation. According to sources, the HSIIDC did not acquire the authorization to create (CTE) for the plant, but it did obtain permission to run the CETP in 2023.
According to the HSPCB’s sources, the CETP was discovered to be releasing pollutants over the limits outlined in the 1986 EP Rules.
Using the methodology established by the CPCB, the RO, Sonepat, has determined the total environmental compensation for the period of March 2022 to December 2023. According to RO Pradeep Kumar, a calculation of Rs 1.94 crore has been made for breaking the rules.
The headquarters has been notified about the EC for approval.
