Chandigarh: All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary Kumari Selja on Friday claimed that the water of Ghaggar river was neither fit for drinking nor irrigation. Against an acceptable total dissolved solids (TDS) range of 150-300 mg/l for drinking water, the levels range from 198-1068 mg/l and 248-2010 mg/l in Haryana and Punjab, respectively.
The former Union minister said despite claims by both states regarding sufficient sewage treatment capacities, the reality reflects otherwise.
Selja raised questions in Parliament to the Union minister for jal shakti about the condition of the Ghaggar river. The minister confirmed that the water is unfit for drinking and irrigation. Selja also inquired about the tests conducted on the water, its TDS levels, the pollution found, and plans to resolve the issue.
The Union minister cited a Nov, 2022-dated Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) report, which identified two polluted stretches of the river, one each in Punjab and Haryana. Based on the 2023 water quality monitoring results, the TDS levels ranged from 198-1068 mg/l in Haryana and 248-2010 mg/l in Punjab. While the river water complied with Class E standards (for irrigation and industrial cooling), it requires traditional treatment and disinfection to make it suitable for drinking.
The minister said it was the primary responsibility of states, union territories, and local bodies to ensure adequate treatment of sewage and industrial waste before being discharged into water bodies. Under the National River Conservation Plan, Punjab has a sewage treatment capacity of 15 million litres daily (MLD). The Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) reported that 28 sewage treatment plants (STPs) with a total capacity of 291.7 MLD have been set up in the state, with 15 more with a capacity of 97 MLD under construction. Similarly, Haryana has established a sewage treatment capacity of 588 MLD under the Ghaggar Action Plan.