(MOREPIC1)Face2News/New Delhi
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) directed for the personal appearance of the Director, Punjab Water Supply and Sewerage Board and Member Secretary, State Pollution Control Board in connection with supply of contaminated drinking water to the residents of Zirakpur-Banur-Rajpura belt.
Ms. Sunaina, Advocate and Environment Activist has filed the present Petition/application seeking issuance of appropriate directions to the respondents to ensure supply of potable and clean water to the residents of Zirakpur-Banur-Rajpura belt and to draw comprehensive plan to find out the root causes of contamination of water and suggest remedial measures.
The applicant has averred that due to supply of contaminated water, the residents of Zirakpur-Banur-Rajpura belt are suffering from various diseases like cholera, jaundice, typhoid, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, dehydration and skin-borne diseases. In support of the application, the applicant has placed on record copies of the newspaper reports.
Vide order dated 08.07.2022, this Tribunal constituted a Joint Committee comprising of the State PCB; Principal Secretary, Department of Health, Government of Punjab, Punjab Water Supply and Sewerage Board and Deputy Commissioners, Patiala and Mohali and directed the same to submit factual and action taken report within two months.
In compliance thereof, the report of the Joint Committee has been filed vide email dated 07.10.2022.The relevant part of the report reads as under:-
(SUBHEAD)“Report of the Joint District Level Committee in the matter of OA No. 490 of 2022: Sunaina V/s State of Punjab and Others, in compliance of Hon'ble National Green Tribunal Orders dated 08.07.2022.
Background:
The matter is related to a petition filed by Ms. Sunaina, Advocate and Environment Activist seeking issuance of appropriate directions to the respondents to ensure supply of potable and clean water to the residents of Zirakpur-Banur-Rajpura belt and to draw comprehensive plan to find out the root causes of contamination of water and suggest remedial measures.
The applicant has averred that due to supply of contaminated water, the residents of Zirakpur-Banur-Rajpura belt are suffering from various diseases like cholera, jaundice, typhoid, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, dehydration and skin-borne diseases.
In the order dated 08.07.2022, it was observed by Hon'ble National Green Tribunal as under:
“The averments made in the petition raise substantial questions relating to environment arising out of the implementation of the enactments specified in Schedule-I to the National Green Tribunal Act, 2010.In view of the serious allegations made in the present application, it would be appropriate to have a factual and action taken report in the matter”.
Compliance of the Directions of Hon'ble NGT:
A. Constitution of Joint District Level Committee
In compliance of the directions of the Hon'ble NGT, a joint district level Committee was constituted under the chairmanship of Additional Deputy Commissioner comprising of the following member vide Deputy Commissioner,-. Mohali order no DC/MHU3552 dated 22.08.2022 with a copy to Principal Secretary, Department of Health, Principal Secretary, Punjab Water Supply & Sewerage Board, Principal Secretary, Punjab Water Supply & Sanitation, Chief Administrator, GMADA Chairman, PPCB and DC, Patiala
i. Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Derabassi ii. Sub-Divisional Magistrate, SAS Nagar. iii. Senior Engineer (Public Health), GMADA iv. Environmental Engineer, PPCB, SAS Nagar v. Executive Officer of concerned Municipal Committee(s) vi. Executive Engineer, Department of Water Supply & Sanitation, SAS Nagar
vii. Executive Engineer, Punjab Water Supply & Sewerage Board, SAS Nagar viii. Chief Medical Officer, SAS Nagar
Further, Deputy Commissioner, Patiala vide its letter no 2131 dated 28 08.2022 nominated Additional Deputy Commissioner (UD), Patiala for representation from District Patiala.
Visit of the Sub-Committee to the Water Supply locations to verify the status: In compliance to the NGT orders dated 08.07.2022, the sub-committee in compliance of decisions of the meeting dated 30.08.2022 visited the Water Supply locations in Zirakpur, Banur and Rajpura on 01.09.2022 and collected water samples from the following locations:
Zirakpur Area- Samplinq carried from 15 locations Banur Area-Sampling carried from 10 locations
Raipura Area – Sampling carried from 10 locations
Out of 35 locations from where sample were drawn, samples from 8 locations have fail to meet permissible limits as per IS 10500: 2012.
Status of interim remedial measures to reduce pollution loads being followed, if any.
• Zirakpur – MC, Zirakpur has installed chlorimeter over all the tubewells from where water is supplied in the town.
• Banur – MC, Banur has installed chlorine dosing machines over all the 7 tubewells being operated by it from where water is supplied in the town. MC, Banur has prepared estimate for laying new water pipeline between ward no. 8 (Mohalla Batta kalan) till ward no. 9 (old bus stand) and submitted to Sub-Divisional Engineer, Punjab Water Supply & Sewerage Board, Zirakpur vide letter no. 1091 dated 02.09.2022
• Rajpura – A project for replacing the old pipeline network and household connections has been prepared under AMRUT Schema with an estimated amounting to Rs 178 crores.
Recommendations:
• MC, Banur, Zirakpur and Rajpura shall ensure to supply potable water complying with the parameters as prescribed in IS:10500:2012, to the residents.
• MC, Banur, Zirakpur and Rajpura shall identify all the water supply pipelines which are leaking and either replace or provide new water supply line.”
Hon’ble National Green Tribunal directed for the personal appearance of the Director, Punjab Water Supply and Sewerage Board and Member Secretary, State PCB on the next date of hearing i.e.,10.01.2023through VC to be essential for producing the relevant documents regarding requisite compliance with the enactments specified in Schedule I to the National Green Tribunal Act, 2010 and also assisting this Tribunal in just and proper adjudication of the questions involved in the case and they are accordingly directed to remain present before this Tribunal on that date.
