Coming up, Rs 244-cr lift irrigation projects at Buddha Nullah
In a major development, the state government has chalked out a comprehensive plan to install 22 lift irrigation projects at various locations of the Buddha Nullah, one of the most polluted tributaries of the Sutlej, passing through Ludhiana before it confluences with the river and enters Rajasthan, at the cost of Rs 244.45 crore.
These schemes will provide treated water from STPs and CETPs for irrigation purposes to farmers in catchment areas of the Sutlej tributary.
It was informed by Divisional Soil and Water Conservation Officer Nidhi Batta to the high-level joint group of experts and senior officials from the Centre and Punjab, formed by the Union Government, for carrying out a time-bound action plan to clean and preserve the Sutlej tributary recently.
The development assumes significance as the state government had in December 2020 launched an ambitious project to rejuvenate the Buddha Nullah at the cost of Rs 840 crore but even after spending almost the entire corpus and lapse of over four years, the Sutlej tributary still remains polluted.
She said after the revival of the lower Buddha Nullah, treated water would be provided to the farmers through 22 different lift irrigation projects located at various locations, costing around Rs 244.45 crore.
She said the work of revival of the lower Buddha Nullah would be carried out by the Department of Water Resources (DWR).
The representative of the DWR said the project report of the revival of the lower Buddha Nullah was under consideration of the department and was yet to be finalised. “Separate schemes are also being formulated through the PMIDC for lifting treated water through the pipeline conveyance system, through which treated effluents from STPs/ CETPs can be avoided to be discharged into the nullah and directly bypassed to the lower nullah or irrigation catchment areas,” he said, adding that the cost of such project may be high.
Representatives from both departments revealed that the quality of treated effluents from the CETP was not fit for irrigation and the farmers were apprehensive to utilise the same for irrigation.
Regarding the in-house use of treated effluents within the city limits for parks and gardens of the civic body, MC Chief Engineer Ravinder Garg said the corporation was working on pilot projects at Leisure Valley for captive/ small STPs to treat and utilise domestic effluents in big parks/ gardens. “In case, the experiment is successful, such projects can be replicated in other parts of the city to utilise treated sewage in gardens and parks,” he said.
The committee observed that the utilisation of treated effluents was a crucial component in stopping the discharge of effluents and wastewater into the nullah.
It directed the Department of Soil and Water Conservation to suggest an alternative scheme in case the lower nullah was not revived and check whether the treated effluents can be utilised for other irrigation catchment areas.
The MC was asked to share the progress regarding the pilot project to utilise the treated domestic effluents in parks/gardens to further explore its future upscaling.
RK Ratra, Chief Environmental Engineer, PPCB, informed the committee that most of the small-scale dyeing units were connected with the three CETPs, whereas the electroplating units were connected to the CETP provided for such units. “Spent acid generating units are connected to the re-processors,” he said, adding that on the directions of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the PPCB had issued directions to all three CETPs of 15, 40 and 50 MLD capacity each, to stop their discharge into the nullah. However, the special purpose vehicle of the CETPs have filed appeals against the directions of the CPCB/ PPCB before the NGT.
He said most of the large scale dyeing units have agreed to provide zero liquid discharge-based treatment systems and were likely to complete and commission their projects by December 31. Of the total 13 such units, two have already completed their projects whereas two others have stopped the wet/ dyeing process. “Small/ medium scattered dyeing units have also been issued notices and were being persuaded to stop discharges into the sewer network,” he submitted.
Ludhiana