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No proposal in last three years to rejuvenate or restore N choe: LS reply

Centre’s reply on Manish Tewari’s query on ‘unchecked pollution’ in the seasonal stream

3 min readChandigarhUpdated: Dec 1, 2025 08:33 PM IST

In the last three years no proposal for rejuvenation or restoration of the seasonal stream, N choe, has been made in Chandigarh, the Lok Sabha response to a query on Monday said.

Chandigarh Member of Parliament (MP) Manish Tewari sought an answer from the central government on the “unchecked pollution” in the N choe that flows through the heart of Chandigarh. He also asked whether sewage continues to overflow into N choe stream, causing severe environmental degradation and public health concerns.

Tewari also asked whether the National Green Tribunal (NGT) or Chandigarh Pollution Control Committee (CPCC) has issued any directions to the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation regarding persistent pollution and high coliform levels in the city’s seasonal rivulets and whether the civic authorities have implemented any long-term sewage treatment and drainage management plan to prevent recurring contamination.

He also asked whether any proposal has been made to rejuvenate or restore the natural watercourse and whether accountability has been fixed for repeated environmental violations leading to untreated sewage discharge into natural streams.

Union Cabinet Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav, in his reply, told the House that based on the directions dated January 18, 2024 of NGT in the matter, Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) conducted inspection of N choe drain on January 29 and 31, 2024, and observed that an end point sewage pipeline crossing the drain in Sector 36, which was broken earlier and leading to sewage flowing into N choe, has been repaired. A small heap of solid and construction and demolition (C&D) waste was disposed of on the bank of the drain at Hibiscus Garden in Sector 36.

The inspection report of CPCB recommended that the Municipal Corporation (MC), Chandigarh shall ensure that all leakage and overflow of fresh water which leads to N choe must be tapped and plugged. It all asked the MC to carry out a survey and identify the spot area of solid waste thrown and fit ‘net jaali’ along the roadside to prevent dumping of the solid waste into the drain, the reply said.

The Union minister further said that while disposing of the application, the NGT recommended that for the Chandigarh stretch of the N choe, “a regular and continuous monitoring is required by Municipal Corporation, Chandigarh to ensure that no sewage flows” into the stream.

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Further, according to the CPCC, during the last one year, at times some discharge of waste water was reported in N choe. The CPCC had directed the Chandigarh civic body to take corrective measures to ensure that there is no disposal of waste in the N-Choe. The pollution panel also directed the Engineering Department, Chandigarh Administration, to provide iron net on the culverts where the N choe is in close proximity to the roads.

The Parliament reply said that in the last three years, no specific proposal for rejuvenation or restoration of the N choe has been made.

Hina Rohtaki

Hina Rohtaki is a Special Correspondent at The Indian Express, based in Chandigarh. She is one of the most prominent journalists covering the Chandigarh Administration, civic issues, and the unique political status of the Union Territory. Professional Background Experience: She has been in the field for over a decade and is known for her investigative reporting on administrative waste and urban governance. Awards: She is a recipient of the prestigious Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Award, which was presented to her by the President of India in January 2020. She was also awarded the Jethmalani prize (The Will of Steel Awards) in 2025 in the Empowerment category for a series of articles that highlighted the struggles of Covid widows. Core Beat: Her primary focus is the Chandigarh administrative structure, the Union Territory's financial management, and urban development projects. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Her recent work highlights a focus on government accountability, administrative expenditures, and civic trends: 1. Investigative & Financial Reporting "Fuelling power: Senior UT IAS officers guzzled petrol worth Rs 30 lakh in 2 yrs" (Dec 14, 2025): An investigative report detailing the high fuel bills of top bureaucrats, including the Finance Secretary and Chief Secretary’s staff. "Admn spends Rs 1.5 crore on dismantling road railings and fixing again after increasing height" (Dec 8, 2025): Highlighting administrative waste on "non-viable" solutions for pedestrian control. "Chandigarh’s finances under ministry’s watch now" (Nov 27, 2025): Reporting on the new requirement for MHA approval for all new projects in the UT. 2. Governance & Constitutional Status "What will it mean for Chandigarh if it is brought under Article 240?" (Nov 24, 2025): An "Explained" piece on the potential constitutional shift that would grant the President more power over the UT's governance. "MP Manish Tewari moves Bill seeking directly elected Mayor with 5-year tenure" (Dec 6, 2025): Covering the legislative push to reform Chandigarh's municipal leadership structure. "No proposal to increase Mayor's term in Chandigarh by 5 years: Centre" (Dec 10, 2025): Reporting on the Union government's response to demands for a longer mayoral term. 3. Urban Infrastructure & Environment "Chandigarh admn cuts power to India's tallest air purifier, asks firm to dismantle it" (Nov 17, 2025): A critical report on the failure of a high-cost environmental project deemed "of no use" by experts. "UT rethinks 24/7 water supply project as costs soar" (Nov 26, 2025): Detailing the financial challenges and delays in modernizing the city's water network. "Centre 'obfuscating, covering up' MC's shifting deadlines for clearing Dadu Majra dump" (Dec 12, 2025): Reporting on the ongoing controversy surrounding the city's major waste dump. 4. Lifestyle & Local Trends "Chandigarh turns into a Thar city as women fuel the surge" (Dec 2, 2025): A feature on a unique automotive trend in the city, with a record 600 registrations by women drivers this year. "After fivefold spike in 2023, EV sales struggle to pick pace in Chandigarh" (Dec 2, 2025): Analyzing the slowdown in electric vehicle adoption despite previous surges. Signature Beat Hina is known for her meticulous tracking of RTI (Right to Information) data to expose administrative inefficiency. Her "Ground Zero" reporting on the Dadu Majra garbage dump and her scrutiny of the Chandigarh Smart City projects have made her a key figure in the city’s civil society discourse. X (Twitter): @HinaRohtaki ... Read More

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