PPS-Nabha facing pollution board action for groundwater contamination

SCHOOL FOUND TO BE PUMPING SEWAGE INTO GROUNDWATER THROUGH BOREWELLS

PATIALA:The prestigious Punjab Public School (PPS), Nabha has been caught on the wrong foot by the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) as it has been pumping sewage water into groundwater through 250-feet deep borewells.

Pumping sewage water into groundwater through borewell is a major violation of anti-pollution laws, and it can attract a major penalty to the school, which has the state governor as chairman of its board of governors and the chief minister as a member.

Following a complaint, the PPCB sent a team, headed by environment engineer SS Gill, which found that there are two borewells through which the school was pumping sewage from residences of teachers and the non-teaching staff into groundwater.

“Even the septic tank sewage was going into the borewells, which was being mixed into the groundwater,” reads the status report prepared by the PPCB team.

Notably, the team got the report signed by the school estate officer.

Under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, the charges of contaminating groundwater are serious in nature.

Sources said PPCB can even disconnect electricity of the school, apart from imposing a heavy penalty.

A PPCB spokesman said it was very sad that such a school was found violating norms. He said the matter has been referred to the board chairman for further action.

Meanwhile, school principal Jagpreet Singh said that he is not aware of the visit of the PPCB team as he was on leave for three days. “But if any violation has been found, the school will take remedial measures,” he added.