Chandigarh: Industry waste worries NGT

CHANDIGARH: The executive committee of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Friday asked the pollution department of the UT administration to set up a combined effluent treatment plant (CEPT) for industrial units.

The city has around 3,000 industries of different nature and out of these, almost half of them release effluents. “Though some of the industries have their own effluent treatment plants, many do not. It is very difficult for the authorities to monitor and check every single industry on a regular basis. The NGT has strongly suggested and focused on CETP for Chandigarh, where every effluent releasing industry can be covered, and all effluents can go to the CEPT,” said an official.



Debendra Dalai, director, environment, and chief conservator of the forests, UT, who attended the meeting, said, “We are holding talks with the Punjab government as one such plant is proposed there. They are ready to take the effluents of our industries. Things are moving in a positive direction. Since such projects need major chunk of land, we are looking for its possibility in Punjab.”

Chandigarh based industries are divided into different categories, white, red, green and orange. “Electroplating industries of the city produce effluents, but the number is quite less as compared to other states. Though there is a need to keep checks and take remedial measures for proper treatment of effluents, the CEPT is crucial suggestion”, sources said.

Issues related to solid waste management, plugging of Sukhna choe and Nchoe were also discussed in the meeting between the NGT and the UT officials.