Gujarat HC seeks concrete action plan for zero waste discharge in Sabarmati River

The court has also sought that the Ahmedabad Municipal Commissioner place a personal affidavit, listing the compliance in accordance with earlier issued directions by the HC by the next hearing. The court is due to hear the matter next on September 15.

It was pointed out by the amicus curiae in the case that contaminated sewage water was flowing from a stormwater drain at Shahibaug.

However, since the time that Sabarmati River Front Development Corporation Limited Project (SRFDCL) appointed Ranjit Buildcon Ltd. to carry out the construction of certain portions of Riverfront Phase-II, it has also been brought to the notice that Ranjit Buildcon Ltd. has created an artificial cesspool due to which the contaminated sewage is getting collected in the cesspool and the flow into the river has been stopped.

However, according to the amicus, a huge quantity of contaminated sewage within a small area would result in percolation of the contaminants directly into the underground water table and hence the creation of the artificial cesspool results in the destruction of the ecological balance of the area. The AMC has also admitted that at least nine of the total 14 of its STPs (sewage treatment plants) are not meeting wastewater treatment standards and that the same would not be possible till the technology is upgraded.

The court observed that based on the submissions by the amicus curiae and the affidavits of GPCB and AMC, “it is evident that AMC has not been able to achieve its objective of providing drainage system and treatment facility for the domestic wastewater generated from the various residential societies and commercial complexes within its jurisdiction.” The court also noted that the MEGA pipeline, which is managed and operated by the Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) called as Ahmedabad MEGA Clean Association (AMCA), “has not achieved its object of conveyance of industrial wastewater generated from its member units and disposal into river Sabarmati.”

The bench observed that the earlier court orders had directed that a methodology be devised by the AMC to put a check on the issue of unauthorised wastewater being discharged into the stormwater drains, and a clear roadmap be charted by AMC and GPCB for improvement based on the actual quantities of industrial effluent, sewage, and other wastewater discharged in the Sabarmati River through known outfalls and drains as well as those identified through the drone survey.

The bench, however, recorded that when asked about the same, there was “no concrete reply” from the AMC, and similarly, the GPCB too could not provide any concrete action being taken in the matter of closure direction and notice of directions issued by GPCB in the month of March, April, May, and June.

The court, while issuing directions, recorded, “Evacuation of contaminated water in the river Sabarmati, inefficiency and inefficacy of STPs in the treatment of contaminated water and the flow of sewage water from the stormwater drain meant to overflow storm water during the rainy season, is admitted. It seems that the directions contained in the order dated 22.04.2022 passed by this Court have not been complied within their true letter and spirit.”