Chandigarh: In a major initiative to provide relief to residents and farmers from foul odour around sewage treatment plants (STPs), the Haryana Government is preparing to install activated carbon-based systems at 24 STPs across the state. The initiative, aimed at reducing odour from treated wastewater, is estimated to cost Rs. 3,865.806 lakh. Public Health Engineering and Public Works Minister Ranbir Gangwa has directed officials to take the issue of foul odour around STPs seriously, implement effective measures to improve the quality of treated wastewater and ensure priority redressal of farmers’ complaints.
Ranbir Gangwa was chairing a review meeting of Public Health Engineering Department officials at the Haryana Civil Secretariat. During the meeting, major projects costing Rs. 25 crore and above were reviewed circle-wise. Additional Secretary of the Department, Renu Sogan, Engineer-in-Chief Devender Dahiya and other senior officials attended the meeting in person, while Superintending Engineers (SEs), Executive Engineers (XENs) and Sub-Divisional Engineers (SDOs) from across the state joined through video conferencing.
The Minister said complaints regarding foul odour around STPs and the quality of treated wastewater were frequently received from farmers and local residents. He directed the department to ensure that the quality of water improves after treatment and that its use does not cause inconvenience to people living in surrounding areas. He also instructed officials to expedite work related to the proposed activated carbon-based systems and take immediate action on complaints raised by farmers.
Ranbir Gangwa said ensuring the quality of treated wastewater was essential to increasing its reuse for irrigation and other purposes. Farmers should not face any difficulty in using treated water.
