Environmental panel nod to revive Patvi sewerage project

Manish Sirhindi

Tribune News Service

Ambala, February 4

The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) commitee has consented to revive Solid Waste Treatment Plant (SWTP) at Patvi. The project is expected to be revived by next month.

Deputy Commissioner (DC) MS Brar today said he had put forth a case in favour of the SWTP’s revival before the EIA committee. Initially, the committee was susceptible of the project. Now, it has recommended that a no-objection certificate be given to the local authorities to revive this project. “The NoC is expected this month, after which the project will be revived,” Brar said.

The SWPT has been out of operations ever since it was shut down shortly after being inaugurated about six years ago. The reason being the Union Ministry of Environment did not give clearance to the project.

Since the shutting down of the plant, the district has been struggling with stink and heaps of garbage.

The plant was constructed for Rs 12 crore and it was to treat 150 metric tonnes of solid waste every day, besides generating 5 MW power in an environment friendly manner. The plant had advance flue gas control systems to take care of sulphur oxides and nitrogen oxides.

Former Ambala MP Kumari Selja had taken up the matter with the-then state government several times, but no steps were taken to re-start the plant. The garbage collection vehicles bought as part of the project were left to bite the dust.

The Union Urban Development Ministry had planned to set up 10 such plants near important airfields in the country. As Ambala has one of the major airbases, a plant was sanctioned here.

The Air Force had been taking interest in the project, as accidental hitting of birds with aircraft was feared due to rising heaps of garbage around the airbase.

The Air Force maintained that due to delay in starting the project, there was danger of birds hitting aircraft which could result in loss of life and property.