Chandigarh: Punjab Chief Secretary Vijay Kumar Janjua on Wednesday chaired a high-level meeting with different departments and directed them to ensure time-bound completion of all projects related for sewage management and solid waste management.
Holding the meeting with officials of Department of Science & Technology, Local Bodies Department, Punjab Pollution Control Board, Department of Water Resources, MC Ludhiana, MC Jalandhar and Housing & Urban Development, Chief Secretary categorically said that no laxity will be tolerated as the Punjab government led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann is taking various initiatives to preserve the environment.
He directed the concerned officials to address the major environmental issues including to control water & air pollution and for ensuring solid & plastic waste management in the state.
Reviewing the water pollution of rivers due to discharge of sewage and effluents during the meeting, the Department of Local Govt. informed the CS that 111 STPs are being setup to address the sewage gap of 570 MLD by December 31, 2023 along with the 225 MLD STP at Jamalpur while a 60 MLD STP at Balloke to be installed by June 30, 2023. Further, the Effluent Treatment Plant for Tajpur & Haibowal Diary Complex are likely to be completed by 30.06.2023.
CEO, PEDA informed the CS that the Bio CBG Plant at Tajpur Diary Complex to handle 300 Tons of cow dung per day is likely to be commissioned by November, 2024. Regarding Solid Waste Management, Local Govt. informed 99% households have covered under door-to-door collection of solid waste and 84% households have covered under segregation of waste at source. Further, 74% waste of solid waste is being processed through aerobic composting and 265 material recovery facilities have been set up in the state. Regarding the Bio-remediation of old dump sites, the work in 114 ULBs are to be completed by 31.12.2022, 32 ULBs by 31.03.2023 & 2 ULBs by 31.03.2024.
The meeting was attended by V.P Singh, Principal Secretary, Local Govt., A.K. Sinha, Principal Secretary, Housing & Urban Development, Krishan Kumar, Principal Secretary, Water Resources, Kumar Rahul, Secretary, Science Technology & Environment, Varinder Kumar, CEO, PWSSB, Sumeet Kumar Jarangal, CEO, PEDA, Krunesh Garg, Member Secretary, Punjab Pollution Control Board, Amit Kumar, JDC, Rural Department and Manish Kumar, Director, Directorate of Environment.
