Ludhiana: In an ongoing petition filed against the dyeing units reportedly releasing their waste water into the MC sewer lines, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed the state government, Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) and the Ludhiana deputy commissioner (DC) to file their further progress/status report one week before the next date of hearing, which is fixed for March 20, 2025. The Central Pollution Control Board is also directed to file the compliance report disclosing performance of common effluent treatment plants (CETP).
In a report submitted to the NGT, PPCB chief engineer RK Ratra had pointed out that there were total 54 scattered dyeing units in catchment area of Buddha Dariya and out of these, 11 are large units, and 43 medium & small units. The small and medium units were asked to close down and shift the premises within the area having connectivity with the CETP and for this, the timeline given was March 31, 2023, and for large units timeline was June 30, 2023. Ratra also submitted in the tribunal that out of 11 large units, one had adopted zero liquid discharge (ZLD), one is closed down and nine were remaining and so far as medium and small units concerned 10 units had closed down.
He has submitted that the PPCB was taking steps for imposition of environmental compensation and that since the timeline for either shifting to ZLD or shifting the premises in the area having connectivity with the CETP had expired, he would submit the proposal to the PPCB chairman within one week for closing of these units.
The PPCB has issued directions to the scattered dyeing units (not connected with CETP), including large scale units for not operate their outlets for discharge of treated effluents into municipal sewer. The MC has been directed to disconnect the sewer connections.
In the orders, the tribunal has mentioned that DC Jitendra Jorwal, who had appeared virtually, had submitted that some more units have adopted ZLD and some of the units have decided to shift to an alternate place. He submitted that the discharge from these units meeting all the norms. On this, the tribunal stated that these units should be asked to use the discharge in their premises as a source of water.