Express report on garbage choking UT’s choes: NGT issues notice to MC commissioner
In a three-part series first published on December 15 titled ‘How garbage is choking N-choe in Chandigarh, The Indian Express had shed light on the poor state of three seasonal streams.
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The CPCC said that recently there was a collapse of the sewage system at one point near Sector 36 due to which waste water was diverted to storm water channel which ultimately mixes with the N-choe and affected its water quality. (File Photo)In a suo-motu matter based on a report by The Indian Express that had highlighted garbage choking N-choe in Chandigarh, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has issued a notice to the commissioner Municipal Corporation (MC), Chandigarh, and sought a reply before the next hearing on March 20.
In a three-part series first published on December 15 titled ‘How garbage is choking N-choe in Chandigarh, The Indian Express had shed light on the poor state of three seasonal streams – N-choe, Sukhna Choe, and Patiala-ki-Rao – where sewage water, garbage, including solid and wet waste, along with carcasses of dead animals, were being indiscriminately dumped.
The NGT issued the notice to MC commissioner as it considered reply submitted by the Chandigarh Pollution Control Committee (CPCC), in which the pollution committee had confirmed that sewage water being released and waste material including solid waste, garbage were being dumped in the N-choe.
The tribunal also directed the member secretary, CPCC to get the spot inspected and file the report at least one week before the next date of hearing by email.
NGT stated in its order, which was uploaded on its site on Saturday, that four authorities including the office of deputy commissioner-cum-district magistrate, UT; member-secretary, CPCC; chairman of CPCC; and commissioner of Municipal Corporation, were made respondents in the suo-motu matter.
In its reply responding to the advance notice, the CPCC had stated that it had earlier observed such issues and had directed the civic body to take corrective measures to ensure that there is no disposal of waste in the N-choe. “The CPCC requested the Engineering Department, Chandigarh Administration and Municipal Corporation, Chandigarh to provide an iron net on these culverts where the choes are in close proximity to the roads, so that people may not be able to dispose of the solid waste from these points,” the pollution committee added.
Similarly, CPCC highlighted this issue to the Engineering Department, Chandigarh, that at places where the iron nets have been installed are not found up to the mark and to install these at all places where there is a need. During a recent inspection on January 3, it was again observed that solid waste is being dumped along the bank of choes, the CPCC claimed in its reply.
“During the inspection it was also observed that some people had thrown their waste furniture material in the choe, liquid waste in N-choe. That with respect to the discharge of liquid waste in the N-choe, it is submitted that earlier there were around 15 points from where waste water was being discharged into N-choe, which have since been closed and tapped in light of the directions issued by the tribunal,” the pollution committee further said.
The CPCC said that recently there was a collapse of the sewage system at one point near Sector 36 due to which waste water was diverted to storm water channel which ultimately mixes with the N-choe and affected its water quality.
“However, during the recent monitoring in January 2024, it has been observed that the said point has been plugged which is clearly visible in the improved water quality of N-choe. The sewerage line near Sector 36 has now been repaired by the municipal corporation and the latest inspection shows that the biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) value is 4.4 mg/I which is much below the 30 mg/I,” it added.
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