Local Govt’s time-bound action plan for reuse of waste water
Even as the state heads for a severe water crisis due to over exploitation of water resources, only 18 per cent of the water treated at sewage treatment plants (STPs) is being put to use in 167 urban areas of the state.
Of the 1,609 million litres per day (MLD) of waste water being treated at the 90 STPs, only 300 MLD is being put to use, while the remaining is discharged into nearby drains and other water bodies, according to the data available with Local Government Department. Though the Punjab Municipal Building Byelaws, 2018, make it mandatory to use treated water, lack of infrastructure to supply it to the end-users has been hampering the cause.
Now, the Local Government has come out with a time-bound action plan to ensure “reuse of treated waste water” for gardening, road washing, construction and industrial purposes. The ‘State Treated Waste Water Policy’ has been notified, listing guidelines for waste water collection, treatment and reuse. A time frame—varying from six month to a year—has been fixed for the urban local bodies (ULBs) to put in place infrastructure to supply treated water to end-users. These bodies have also been asked to implement the water metering policy in a year and undertake feasibility studies for supply of treated water to end-users.
Principal Secretary (Local Bodies) A Venu Prasad said the department would strictly enforce the guidelines.
An official maintained there were 167 urban local bodies with a population of 1.03 crore. At present, 92 STPs, having a total capacity of around 1,600 MLD, were functional, while 25 more STPs (271 MLD) had been approved, he added.
Award for Phagwara STP
The Phagwara sewage treatment plant (STP) has been chosen by the Centre for the National Water Mission Award for ensuring utilisation of treated water for irrigation. The plant is one among the 23 nationwide projects which have been chosen.
September 28, 2019, The Tribune