Govt to Punish 1,000 Polluting Industries Along Ganga

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Govt to Punish 1,000 Polluting Industries Along Ganga

The government has decided to crack the whip on 1,000 industrial units across five states along the Ganga that are continuing to empty untreated waste into the river.

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Union water resources ministry figures show that approximately 500 million litres a day of effluents are discharged into the Ganga daily. (Hindustan Times file photo)

After the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) recently identified these 1,000 polluting industries, the Union water resources ministry under the Namami Gange programme has started a special drive to inspect them to find out if they are complying with the norms for treating industrial effluents before releasing them into the river.

“We have roped in reputed institutions to do the inspection who will submit their report in a month. Action including the closure of polluting industries will be initiated against those units found violating norms,” said a ministry official.

Approximately 500 million litres per day (MLD) of effluents are discharged daily into the Ganges. According to the ministry data, the municipal sewage generation from the 118 towns along the river in five states is estimated at 4,790 MLD. As against this, currently treatment capacity of 1,017 MLD is available.

A CPCB survey in the past has shown that over 52% of sewerage from small and mid-size towns along the Ganga goes untreated into the river.

Among the industries that contribute to maximum untreated effluents are those manufacturing pulp and paper, sugar and chemicals. 

Read more at: Hindustan Times

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8 Comments

  1. Polluting towns. Reason for 52% of sewerage from small and mid-size towns along Gange goes untreated into the river? A-Are units being by-passed. B-Lack of training of operators. C-Lack of funds to pay operators and power bills. D- Do operators have other jobs to do for towns example solid waste pick up. Clean Town Hall. E-Sewage Treatment Plant Operator Training always needed. Pulp and paper pollution should be top on list with high BOD and SS. Odor from plants. Central Pollution Control Board  (CPCB) will be tested by polluting industries with their attorneys with  do process of the law. Both sides should be ready to start mitigation process. Law firms and owners need to be on fast track. Gange river is taking a hit 24/7. 

  2. The clear picture of Pollution Causing Agents is there with Governments since long. Good to put Industries flouting Norms/ approval conditions and laws of the land for selfish motives to profit themselves from not incurring the costs of processing the effluent Pollutants. However, State Govt. and its Organs and ULBs should also be dealt with the same severity if they are dumping or allowing to be dumped, any raw, partially treated Sewage, Waste Waters carrying Solid Wastes including Plastics, Dead Animals, etc.  

  3. This is good steps taken by the Government but there should also be an encouragement to the industries for alternate ways to  dispose the waste to a safer outlet.