Sarsa river toxic

The latest report that 37 pharmaceutical firms of the Baddi-Barotiwala-Nalagarh belt have failed to meet the inlet norms of the Common Effluent Treatment Plant (CETP) is alarming. The subsequent outflow of unregulated and untreated antibiotic pollutants into the Sarsa river renews concerns about the overall efficacy of the system. Compliance with the measures mandated to optimise the effluent discharge into the Sarsa by the cluster of firms — pharma, textile, dyeing, food, paper etc — operating in this industrial hub of Himachal Pradesh for almost two decades remains pathetic. Resultantly, over the years, the Sarsa that flows into the Sutlej has been reduced to a sewage drain, gravely exposing the flora and fauna around it to health hazards. Hundreds of livestock are affected and dead fish regularly surface in the Nalagarh area. Interestingly, the Sarsa water quality had significantly improved after the first pandemic-induced lockdown in 2020 when many units were shut. It is a sure pointer to the adverse side effects of uncontrolled development.

In fact, the problem is not limited to many industries not improving inhouse tech to pre-treat their waste before sending it the CETP so as to ultimately minimise poisonous discharges into the river. The CETP — that was set up to reduce effluent treatment cost and provide better collective treatment — too has been beset with irregularities in its functioning. In 2020, the pollution control board had levied a Rs 1-crore environmental compensation on the plant for its failure to comply with the norms and polluting the Sarsa. The CETP was found unfit for treating certain solid effluents; it had also not installed the tertiary treatment facility for some waste categories.

Environmentalists, pollution boards, the green tribunal and courts have red-flagged the public health and environment degradation issues in the Baddi area as the toxic residue is even seeping into the soil and groundwater. But, sadly, a foolproof solution has remained elusive. The situation on the ground continues to deteriorate. Strict action against the violators and compliance with green norms are urgently needed. For, at the present rate, the pollution is headed towards a disastrous point of no return.