CAN’T JUST GO WITH THE FLOW

Key stakeholders dissect a problem that is under the spotlight after spill of tonnes of molasses from a sugar mill in Gurdaspur killed thousands of fish in the Beas and led to scare among people about drinking water from canals

Punjab rivers are in a bad shape with large stretches contaminated by toxic waste and sewage. They require a comprehensive clean-up plan, agreed stakeholders at a roundtable organised by HT on Friday. They dissected the problem of pollution in water bodies that has come under spotlight after a spill of molasses from a sugar mill in Gurdaspur.

Punjab’s rivers are in a bad shape, with large stretches contaminated by toxic waste and sewage; and require a comprehensive clean-up plan without delay — on this, five leading stakeholders agreed at a roundtable organised by Hindustan Times at Mohali on Friday. Kahan Singh Pannu, chairman of Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB); Sachit Jain, chairman of CII (northern region); Baba Balbir Singh Seechewal, environmentalist; IS Paul, chairman of Drish Shoes; and Birinderjit Singh, environment engineer, participated in a discussion moderated by Executive Editor Ramesh Vinayak.

Excerpts:

(To Pannu) As head of Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB), tell us how serious river water pollution is in Punjab.

Pannu: As Ravi’s major part is not in Punjab, we mainly have three rivers — Beas, Sutlej and Ghaggar. Beas is by and large OK, except last week’s incident. In Sutlej, we get B-grade water at Nangal. When it crosses Kiratpur Sahib, water is C-grade. After Ludhiana, it is E, the last grade. So is the case with Ghaggar. We get D-grade water from Haryana, and, by the time it crosses Patiala, particularly Khanauri, it becomes E. So the water in our water bodies is polluted. As there is no grade below E, all the rivers are in a bad shape. We have to accept that, and work out methods to clean them.

(To Seechewal) There are two reasons for pollution, one is industrial pollution, second is untreated sewage or urban waste that flows into rivers. You did a lot of work on it and cleaned Kali Bein. You have a big role in projecting environment issues to the centre stage. When you started, President APJ Abdul Kalam also visited you in 2006. Do you think there are any positive changes?

Seechewal: Abdul Kalam took river water pollution very seriously and raised it world over. Since 2008, we examined water in different rivers (water channels) — Kali Bein, Chitti Bein, Kala Sanghian drain and Sutlej. More than Kali Bein, the Chitti Bein and Sutlej are dangerously polluted. We raised a bundh on Kala Sanghain drain for not allowing polluted water. Before the 2009 general elections, we took candidates to the drain and I visited a cancer hospital in Rajasthan to know the causes. Through Buddha Nullah and Kala Sanghian drain, toxic water of Ludhiana’s electroplating industry and Jalandhar’s leather industry is flowing for decades. Then, through Chitti Bein, it falls into Sutlej and further flows through a bird sanctuary. It then mixes with Beas, and water used for drinking in Malwa belt of Punjab and Rajasthan. Because, subsoil water of Malwa has sulphur content, and in Rajasthan the water is saline. We are sitting here today because molasses from a mill have flown into Beas, large number of fish got killed; what about industry dumping chemicals into rivers? Have you heard of fish getting killed in Sutlej? No, because here they are long extinct! Now people are getting killed due to cancer. Imagine, people are drinking water that flows from Kala Sanghian drain and Budha Nullah, same water is used in gurdwaras! People in Rajasthan don’t know what is mixed in the water they drink; we send them industrial waste. With the fish death, focus is on river water. There was a time when A-grade water used to flow into Sutlej and Beas from Himachal; now both rivers receive B-grade water. Earlier the water of Sutlej used to get diluted when Beas mixed with it. What now when water from Beas is also polluted? As a member of PPCB, I used to take samples of polluted water, but I was not heard. We raised the issue at all levels, even before the previous CM. We are fed up with political leaders. We now pray before God.

(To Jain) I have PPCB data that 13,000 industrial units have dysfunctional effluent treatment plants, or none. Why can antipollution measures not be implemented? What are practical difficulties from industry’s point of view?

Jain: There are three main sources of pollution — industry, municipal waste, and excessive use of pesticides in farms. Entire society is to be made aware. Problem is when industry is attacked straightaway. There are strict norms here that are nowhere else in the world. At CII, we don’t support any company violating norms. Spill of molasses is a case of serious negligence and should be investigated.

Can you detail the impractical norms?

Jain: ‘Zero liquid discharge’ norm discussed here are nowhere else in the world. You make these norms applicable, and large companies will close down and smaller companies, which are anyway not complying, will not comply. Better compliance needs to be enforced first. Move out industry from places where installation of treatment plants is not possible. Shift them to big industrial parks. Electroplating should be shifted to one place and a treatment plant be installed.

(To Paul) You belong to an industry (leather) seen as a villain. As Baba Seechewal also said, Kali and Chitti Bein are polluted due to effluents from tanneries. What is your perspective?

Paul: Contribution of pollution by leather industry is very small — in Kali Bein, 50-55 MLD water comes from 14 kilometers, and the leather complex is at the end, contributing 3.5. The model of leather industry followed everywhere else is that there is one outlet for effluents, after treatment by the CTP. I want to make 3-4 points — polluting industry should itself be made responsible for treatment; if solutions are imported they will not work; make industry accountable as it’s the biggest stakeholder. Make sure land allotted to industrial units has sufficient place to install treatment plants. Solid waste management is also a big problem to which we need to give attention.

Seechewal: No doubt, 90% of pollutant in Kali Bein is municipal waste.

Jain: Sewage if properly treated can be used for irrigation, hence less load on groundwater. Treated water can also be used in industry. We need to diversify away from paddy in Punjab so as to reduce water consumption. I think free power to agriculture sector though a political compulsion should also go, because it leads to misuse of power and groundwater.

(To Birinderjit) What went wrong with CTPs and ETPs in Punjab?

Birinderjit: Why is sewage entering water bodies? All sewage grids were laid with water bodies as final outlets; instead, it should be collected, treated and used for irrigation. Industry says sewage is also coming into drains. But sewage doesn’t contain toxic material; we can easily treat it. No natural compound will treat chromium and nickel from electroplating and dying units! I had refused NOC to Tajpur Road on banks of Buddha Nullah, but now it’s an industrial zone.

What is the present position of CTPs?

Birinderjit: The local bodies department is to blame. They don’t have expert- ise to operate th plants. Three plants were installed in Ludhiana by the water supply and sewage board and handed over to the local bodies department.

Is untreated water is still flowing beyond the treatment plants?

Birinderjit: Yes, but not all. We have spent huge money; plants should work. (To Pannu) PPCB has an important role of enforcement. It is believed that it is corrupt. What are your views?

Pannu: No, it is not that the PPCB is a big institution. We are a team of 100 engineers, with lakhs of industries. In the past four years, for four months the engineers are busy in checking stubble burning. Of 166 cities in Punjab, only 66 have effluent treatment plants; our 100 engineers alone can’t solve the entire problem. We have told the CM that we need treatment plants in all cities and towns. Don’t talk of environment alone; talk of education, policing and governance — we need to spread awareness and not shift the onus.

What about norms that are unrealistic?

Jain: There are times when suggestions that are not realistic are given. PPCB officials are scientific people; they know what is possible and what is not. When someone who may not understand the issue but gives them directions, they are forced to carry out orders. The idea of zero liquid discharge, for example, was considered in the US in the 1970s, and they realised it was not practical. Consciousness of every citizen has to be raised. Just imagine Swachh Bharat! If leaders through their communication start creating awareness, things will change. Where people are digressing, action has to be there. We will support it fully. If you want to close companies which are blatantly violating norms, we will support them.

Buddha Nullah is a test case of water pollution. Crores have been spent on plans, but nothing has changed.

Pannu: The kind of investment it needs was not made. If money had been spent, things would have been better. Ludhiana has a population of 30 lakh. As per norms, water discharge should be 400 MLD. We have STPs to treat 450 MLD, but total water discharge is 750 MLD. Both power and water are free, so people just use water as per their free will. We need to stop that. When we go to World Bank or other agencies for funds for STPs, they say, ‘You have adequate capacity.’ We need to check consumption. It is the same situation in Jalandhar and other cities.

Paul: Political class also has to show conscientiousness. Wherever an STP is to be set up, they oppose. There have been such instances in Amritsar and Jalandhar.

People say STPs lead to stink in the area around them. What about that?

Birinderjit: The state is divided into 7 zones. A pilot city takes care of waste of adjoining places. Biodegradable waste putrefies and produces a fetid smell if it lies there for two days. In some seasons, it’s faster. It depends on how efficiently the system is run.

Pannu: We look for solutions abroad and try to get technologies that are expensive. There is talk of use of waste to generate electricity at, let’s say, Rs 8 per unit. When you can get electricity at Rs 2 to 2.5 per unit, why go for power that costs Rs 8? Punjab has 166 municipal bodies that generate huge amount of solid waste. We need local solutions. For instance, we are focusing on water conservation in industry and doing water audit. Five paper industries in Punjab are using 100 KLD. When they told me that they reduced it to 50, I asked them to try and bring it to 30. We are working on it. Similarly, Punjab has 3,100 brick kilns that produce a huge amount of smoke. They have been told to use a new zigzag high-draft technology from next season. It will cost them about Rs 30 lakh per kiln. In leather industry also, we got a pre-settler tank and solved 50% of the problem. If we can import technology that suits us, it is fine. But it is our problem, and we have to find the solution.

(To Seechewal) Do you see any change in awareness or a proactive approach among people and governments? Also, why have we not produced another Seechewal?

Seechewal: When we started, bureaucrats and politicians had their own views. Politicians saw no harm in waste water from homes flowing into rivers. We said that we want to stop it. Now, Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) speaks on the subject and addresses the nation. How the issue of dead fish in Beas became international headlines reflects more awareness. As for another Seechewal, we all have to start from our homes. Sewa Singh ji is working. SGPC is distributing saplings. In 100 villages, NRIs spent money on sewerage. Wherever STPs have been set up, they should run efficiently. Crores spent on them from taxpayers’ money are wasted. Municipal bodies, PPCB and departments have to be accountable.

What is an overall solution to the problem of pollution of river water?

Jain: It’s difficult to give an overall solution. Awareness is important, and this has to start from our leaders, because they are the ones whose voices are heard the most. Also, each person has to start from within. We need to focus on water conservation. Each company has to see to it that it has pollution control equipment and is operating them. It has to be understood as a crime if you are not treating your water. We have to have ostracisation of people who are not treating water. Just like black money has now become a bad word. Not treating your water and air has to be seen as bad.

Pannu: As a society, it seems, we are on the verge of extinction. What we are doing with water is unpardonable. There are vested interests that say, ‘Allow me, but stop others!’ We tried to get strict with the dyeing industry in Ludhiana. They downed shutters and went to politicians. When we stop farmers, they lock up our teams. The Captain government is serious; a committee has been set up under environment minister OP Soni to plan for the cleaning of rivers. The Beas disaster was due to reaction in a tank storing molasses. PPCB has no control on that. Our role is about effluents. But the department dealing with this (molasses) is not willing to take its responsibility. We cannot shirk; we have taken the strictest action. Such action has not been taken anywhere in the country. Government has also said that enough is enough.

Paul: Role of the press is also important in creating consciousness. Also, cropping pattern needs to change. Underground water is available at 22 metres, but we are still insistent on paddy and sugarcane, ignoring the associated problems.

What about political interference?

Birinderjit: When you are in the state services and an appointee of the government, it has control over you. Like the IAS and IPS, an environment service was also thought of, but was not allowed to be successful. Politicians intervene, but often do not know the gravity of the issue.

(To Pannu) You said awareness has increased, but the quality of river water has not seen any change.

Pannu: Awareness has improved, but investment hasn’t. We have been only talking about crores and not spending. Piecemeal efforts are not going to work. The chief minister asked the departments not to make individual efforts but collaborate for a solution in a timebound manner. The chief secretary has been told to arrange funds. However, Buddha Nullah is the biggest challenge for bureaucrats of our generation. For 35 years, governments have been talking about cleaning it, without any success, because what is required has not been done.

(To Seechewal) You are in touch with NRIs. Are they willing to help as the government does not have funds?

Seechewal: How can NRIs take care of the problem of solid waste in areas of municipal bodies? MCs are a huge problem. They take taxes, but don’t do enough. Polluted water comes from industry, but PPCB gets blamed. Why not prosecute them (offenders)? Those responsible should be made accountable.

(To Pannu) What deterring action is being taken?

Pannu: There is provision for criminal prosecution under the law, and hundreds of prosecutions have been launched. But there is a problem. I have 100 engineers, and prosecution means they have to go for hearings in courts. Cases have been pending for 10 years without any decision. There are 250 cases. I am not sure if anyone has been prosecuted so far. Conviction rate is negligible. We do shut down factories and forfeit security.

Birinderjit: The spill in Beas has posed a serious problem. Beas water has reached Harike wetland which also gets water from Buddha Nullah that has nitrogen and phosphorous. These two constituents will lead to algae bloom, and interfere with the drinking water system. There is a need to do something to oxidise the molasses and take precautionary steps on priority.

››FOR FULL VIDEO OF ROUNDTABLE, GO TO FACEBOOK.COM/HTPUNJAB

Each industry has to see to it that it has pollution control equipment... Not treating your water should be understood as a crime. We have to have public ostracisation of people who are not treating their water. SACHIT JAIN, CII (northern region) chairman Why is sewage entering water bodies? Instead, it should be collected at one place and used for irrigation. We should cut off all sewage systems from water bodies. BIRINDERJIT SINGH, ex-chief engineer, PPCB Make sure land allotted to industrial units has sufficient space to install treatment plants. Solid waste management is also a big problem to which we need to give attention. IS PAUL, chairman, Drish Leather Industry Awareness has improved, but investment hasn’t. We have been only talking about crores and not spending. Piecemeal efforts are not going to work. KAHAN SINGH PANNU, PPCB chairman We are sitting for discussion today because large number of fish got killed in Beas... but have you ever heard of fish getting killed in Sutlej? No, because they are long extinct in that river! BABA BALBIR SINGH SEECHEWAL, environmentalist