Rewari: A recent report by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has found that six sewage treatment plants (STPs) in Rewari district are failing to meet the discharge norms set by the National Green Tribunal (NGT). The findings were based on an inspection conducted by the CPCB, following a complaint about untreated sewage being discharged onto vacant land near the dried-up Sahabi river.
The complaint, lodged by local resident Prakash Yadav, alleged that untreated sewage from these STPs was polluting the groundwater and damaging vegetation in the areas surrounding Kharkhara and Khaliawas villages, located along the Delhi-Jaipur National Highway. According to Yadav, the foul smells and contaminated water clearly indicated that the sewage being discharged from the STPs was not properly treated.
The six STPs in question are operated by the Haryana Shahari Vikas Pradhikaran (HSVP) and the Public Health and Engineering Department (PHED). They are located in Kharkhara, Dharuhera, Nasiaji Road, Kaluwas village, and Bawal town. During the inspection on September 10, CPCB officials collected water samples from both the inlets and outlets of these STPs to analyze key parameters such as phosphorus, biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), total suspended solids, total nitrogen, and fecal coliform levels.
The report submitted to the NGT highlights that, while the STP at Kaluwas is currently undergoing rehabilitation, the other five are operational. However, none of these plants meet the required discharge standards. The treated water from the Bawal STP, for instance, is being discharged onto gram panchayat land near the Haryana-Rajasthan border, while the other STPs discharge directly into the Sahabi river barrage. The report also noted that only the STPs at Dharuhera and Kharkhara have disinfection facilities in place.
The failure of these STPs to adhere to environmental norms has serious implications for the local environment and public health. Contaminated groundwater and damaged vegetation have been some of the immediate consequences cited in the complaint. Yadav expressed his concern that the untreated sewage poses long-term risks to the local ecosystem, stating, “The CPCB report has proven that the STPs are discharging effluents without complying with the norms.”
The NGT, which had previously directed the CPCB to inspect the STPs, is expected to take further action based on the findings of the report. The failure of these plants to treat sewage properly underscores the need for urgent intervention to ensure that the STPs are rehabilitated and upgraded to meet pollution control standards. Local residents are hopeful that the NGT’s intervention will result in stricter enforcement of environmental regulations and a cleaner, healthier environment for the region.
As this issue continues to unfold, the Rewari district and surrounding areas remain in focus for their environmental management practices, with significant attention on improving the operations of existing sewage treatment facilities.