PCB chairman inspects Bhagwati Nagar, Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs)

Jammu: Chairman, Jammu & Kashmir Pollution Control Board (JKPCB), Suresh Chugh, along with Member Secretary, JK PCB, B.M. Sharma, Regional Director, PCB, Jammu, Dr. Nadeem Hussain, Chief Analyst, PCB, Jammu, Dr. Yash Paul Salgotra, Arshad Malik, Divisional Officer, PCB, North, Jammu visited Bhagwati Nagar STPs.
Rakesh Kumar, Superintendent Engineer, UEED briefed the officers about the working of Bhagwati Nagar Sewage Treatment Plants. He was accompanied by officers from UEED, ERA and NBCC. There are three STPs, i.e. one 30 MLD STP constructed by Economic Reconstruction Agency (ERA) in 2014 and 27 MLD plant constructed by NBCC under JNURUM and 10 MLD STP that was constructed by UP Jal Nigam (UASB technology). The 30 MLD STP is presently under operation and utilizing from 13 MLD of sewage and is connected to 34,500 thousand houses in Bakshi Nagar and adjoining areas. It was informed that the left out areas of Krishna Nagar, Reshan Ghar, parts of Rehari, Sarwal and left out areas of New Plot up to Janipura, will be connected soon and around 10 MLD capacity of this plant will be utilized by connecting 12 Nallahs flowing on the right bank of the River Tawi.
The second 27 MLD plant of NBCC (ASP Technology) presently connecting 7000 houses of old city Jammu and additional 13 KLD will be utilized once 13 nallahs are connected and additional 07 MLD will be utilized once the balance 5845 houses get connected.
The third plant of 10 KLD of UP Jal Nigam (UASB Technology) was under refurbished and presently it is being utilized up to 7 MLD capacity with 5000 Houses connected to it in Talab Tilloo and adjoining areas.
Additional 3 MLD will be generated once the left out areas at Talab Tilloo are connected. It was informed that the total capacity of these STPs is 67 MLD and presently 27 MLD Sewage is being treated and balance 40 MLD is in the process. This under utilization of STPs due to slow progress in connection of houses, was a matter of concern and the Jal Shakti Ministry, GoI advised UEED to expedite the process of increasing capacity utilization of STPs at Jammu.
The Chairman also visited the Water Lab of UEED and held detailed discussion with scientists working there with regard to various parameters being analyzed in the said lab including total coliform. The Chairman also directed the Board scientist to get water analysis details of various inputs and outputs channels connected with these STPs.
It may be mentioned that the National Green Tribunal (NGT) in its various orders has stressed on the construction of STPs and their time bound completion.