The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed the Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB) to take steps to stop the release of treated wastewater from the proposed sewage treatment plant at Kalol to Thol lake.
The three-member principal bench of the tribunal ordered the GPCB to take further action with regard to the recommendations of the NGT-constituted committee, which suggested against the discharge of treated wastewater into the protected wetlands designated by Ramsar.
Disposing of the proceedings, the NGT Bench in its order on 8 July said, “…let the State PCB take further action with reference to the recommendations to stop the discharge of sewage waste into the lake, including the flow of waste water.” To use the treated water and build a guard pond.
The order further left the Gujarat Industrial Development Corporation (GIDC) to use the wastewater through industrial units in the area “against reasonable charges which can be used for restoration of the lake”. “The use of fresh water for industrial purposes may be controlled/regulated in respect of the fact that there is a shortage of potable water in the area. The quality of the lake may be maintained as per the norms,” the panel directed.
The order comes after a joint committee report said that treated wastewater should not be allowed to be discharged directly or indirectly into Thol Lake and its eco-sensitive area. The panel recommended that dedicated irrigation canals “explore other options for reuse of treated sewage in the eco-sensitive area and adjacent industries, bypassing Thol Lake and without affecting the entire bird sanctuary”. should go.
“Regular manual monitoring should be provided for the treated sewage from the guard pond-cum-distribution pond and proposed STP with OCEMS (Online Continuous Effluent Monitoring System) and the treated sewage should be used for irrigation and industrial purposes,” the report said. depending upon the requirements,” the report said. ,
Some of the options identified by the joint committee and sub-committee include use of treated waste water in the garden area of Kalol Municipality, which has 180 industries, for use by GIDC-Kalol, use by other industries such as Arvind Ltd., Santej and in Kalol. Bharat Vijay Mill, with use by Indian Farmers Fertilizer Cooperative Limited (IFFCO), Kalol unit, if the quality of treated waste water is found viable for its use.
With regard to reuse of treated waste water from the proposed plant, the committee has also noted that “Kalol Municipality will publish/advertisement for Expression of Interest (EoI)”. It suggested that its recommendations should be kept in mind by the GPCB while considering the application of consent for establishment/operation of Kalol STP.
The joint committee was constituted following an order of the principal bench of the NGT in March Indian Express Reported on 19 March that the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) and Chief Wildlife Warden of Gujarat had approved the discharge of treated waste water from the STP into Thol Lake.
Among the richest wetlands in the state, Thol Lake was created in 1912 as an irrigation tank with a catchment area of 155 square kilometers. However, it has now turned into an important wildlife habitat, particularly for waterfowl, which includes dozens of species of international migratory birds as it lays on the Central Asian Flyway.