Samples taken from sewage plant fail test

Kuldeep Chauhan

Tribune News Service

Shimla, January 20

The water samples collected by the State Pollution Control Board from the sewage treatment plant (STP) in Malyana have failed the test.

The board has rapped the Irrigation and Public Health (IPH) Department for not taking measures to maintain the plant.

The samples were taken on October 25 and December 18, 2015. The board has found that the level of the suspended solid and the biological oxygen demand (BOD) in the STP is quite high. Still, the IPH Department is sitting mum over the issue. In the absence of any check, sewage contaminated the water in Ashwani Khud, taking a toll on a large number of residents.

“The board has also found that the STP’s cleanser and filter press are not functioning. It has asked the IPH Department to set up a water holding tank so that the sewage is treated in case of power shutdown as the plant does not have power backup,” said officials of the board.

“Despite a number of jaundice cases being reported from the city over the years, the State Pollution Control Board is not taking water samples from the plant on a regular basis as mandated by the water and sewage treatment plant manual,” the residents said.

“The board has not taken any action against the IPH Department and the operator of the STP so far,” they complained.

IPH officials are tight-lipped over the fault in the STP. Member-Secretary, State Pollution Control Board, Vineet Kumar said notices were issued to the IPH Department after the water samples failed the test. “We keep taking water samples and suggesting remedial measures to the IPH officials,” he said.