Underground pollution in Bahadurgarh

Ravinder Saini

Untreated industrial liquid waste is posing a serious threat to the environment in Bahadurgarh town of Jhajjar district. Some industries, especially chemical and dyeing units, are allegedly carrying out reverse boring in violation of norms, leading to contamination of underground water.  

“Several chemical and dyeing units are resorting to reverse boring at the Modern Industrial Estate (MIE) in Bahadurgarh to dispose of liquid waste while the authorities concerned seem unconcerned. This unlawful activity has led to underground water pollution,” claims Sheela Rathi, Chairperson, Bahadurgarh Municipal Council.

She says that the issue was raised with Bhura Lal, Chairman of the Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority, when he visited Bahadurgarh recently. Lal had directed the district authorities to act against industrial units indulging in reverse boring, she adds. 

Notably, boring is done to lift underground water while in reverse boring a deep trench is drilled into the ground to dispose of liquid waste that pollutes underground water.

Sources say it is mandatory for every industrial unit to have an effluent treatment plant (ETP). Though industrialists set up ETPs to get approval from the Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB), many of them don’t operate the plants to save expenses and instead discharge liquid waste in the open or leave it untreated. 

Satyendra, Regional Officer (Pollution), says that industrial units in the district are being randomly checked under a special drive.  “During inspection, two chemical units in Bahadurgarh town have been found violating pollution norms by not treating liquid waste. The effluent was lying untreated on their premises. Similarly, semi-treated liquid waste was being discharged into a drain at Parnala village. Water samples from such units have been taken for a laboratory test,” he adds. 

Satyendra Pal claims that no case of reverse boring has been found in the district so far. Those complaining about the practice should produce evidence or disclose the names of the non-compliant units so that surprise inspection can be conducted to ascertain the reality. Stern action will be taken against any industry found indulging in reverse boring, he adds.

Deputy Commissioner Sonal Goel says that a joint action plan has been chalked out to control pollution in the MIE, Bahadurgarh city and areas bordering Delhi. “Officers of HUDA, HSIIDC and local bodies have been directed to prevent reverse boring, burning of industrial waste and commercial activities on agricultural land,” says Sonal. Officers have also been directed to act against the units found violating rules, she adds.