Industrial effluents flow in three rivers, says NGT panel report
JODHPUR: Industrial effluents flow round the year in three seasonal rivers of western Rajasthan -- Bandi, Jojari and Luni -which were sources of water for drinking and agricultural purposes, and recharging groundwater, said the report of a monitoring committee constituted by National Green Tribunal (NGT).
A five-member monitoring committee headed by former Jharkhand high court chief justice Prakash Tatia was set up by the NGT on November 23 last year to prevent pollution of the three seasonal rivers due to industrial activities in Jodhpur, Pali, and Barmer district’s Balotra town. The committee submitted the interim report in connection with three cases the tribunal is hearing.
The first case pertains to pollution caused by waste discharged from textile and steel industries in Jodhpur. Industrial effluents discharged in the Jojari river move up to Araba village in Barmer and get stagnated there. “It has caused damage to the river, agricultural and other lands in hundreds of acres, groundwater, tube-wells, open wells and water bodies, and also causes human and animal health hazards,” the report said.
The second case relates to release of effluents to the Luni from industries situated at Balotra, Bithuja, and Jasol in Barmer district. The third case was filed over pollution caused by textile industries in Pali. The effluents released into the Bandi river, it is claimed, pollute areas along 219 kilometres of the river.
“Rivers Bandi, Jojari, and Luni are now only rivers of effluents released from all textile and steel industries of Jodhpur, Pali, and Balotra and other towns of Barmer district,” the report said.
The monitoring committee found that effluents have caused severe damage to Bandi, Jojari and Luni rivers, and Nehra dam of Pali district, groundwater, wells, agricultural and non-agricultural land. “Initially, they were allegations but now they are proven facts, and findings are recorded in detail in experts’ reports and are not questioned nor questionable now. At all sites, we found effluents in quantity and qualitatively very harmful,” the report stated.
The Rajasthan State Industrial Development and Investment Corporation (RIICO) and Jodhpur Municipal Corporation have submitted reports to the monitoring committee. The reports say the municipal corporation is discharging sewage in RIICO drain and the common effluent treatment plant (CETP) is discharging about 15 MLD treated effluents in the Jojari river.
“The municipal corporation also admitted that sewage is discharged in the Jojari river at various places. The sewage and effluents from illegal industries are moving about 50 kilometres through Jojari river and getting stagnated at Araba village, posing srious health hazards,” the monitoring committee said.
Amit Sharma, regional officer at the Rajasthan Pollution Control Board said, “Several issues have been raised in the Justice Tatia Committee report, on which steps will be taken as per the guidelines of the NGT.”