Latest news with #Water(PreventionandControlofPollution)Act
Indian Express
14 hours ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
‘No polluter will be spared': Delhi PWD minister announces crackdown on industrial discharge into Yamuna river
Delhi Public Works Department (PWD) and Water Minister Parvesh Sahib Singh on Friday ordered a city-wide crackdown on the discharge of illegal sewage and industrial waste into the Yamuna, kickstarting an enforcement campaign to tackle water pollution in the capital. Calling untreated sewage discharge a 'crisis that can no longer be ignored,' Singh directed all departments concerned to begin immediate inspections across Delhi's industrial and commercial establishments. 'No polluter will be spared. We will act — and act fast,' the minister was quoted as saying, in the statement issued by the PWD on Friday. According to the statement, the drive will target all establishments legally mandated to install and operate Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) or Effluent Treatment Plants (ETPs). 'Comprehensive and time-bound inspections' are to be conducted to ensure these plants are both installed and functioning properly. The statement also noted that any non-compliance would invite strict legal action under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974. Emphasising a 'zero-tolerance' policy, the PWD said penalties would be enforced 'with no exemptions or delays'. The Water Act allows for fines and imprisonment for discharging pollutants into water bodies without treatment or consent. A real-time e-dashboard will be developed to track inspection status, record violations, and monitor corrective measures. Departments have been directed to submit bi-monthly compliance reports to the minister's office to ensure regular monitoring and accountability. The minister also stressed that 'departmental coordination is key' and called for 'seamless coordination among all enforcement and technical departments' to eliminate delays and ensure timely action. The crackdown comes amid longstanding concerns over the pollution levels in the Yamuna. Despite previous clean-up plans and multiple deadlines, large volumes of untreated waste continue to flow into the river, especially from unregulated industrial clusters and unauthorised colonies, as per government records. 'This is not a symbolic act. It is a matter of survival and legacy. Delhi must rise to this challenge,' Singh said. The enforcement drive begins with immediate effect, said the PWD. High-risk zones and habitual defaulters will be prioritised. Citizens have also been encouraged to report instances of illegal discharge through local helplines or municipal channels.
Hindustan Times
19 hours ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
PWD minister orders action against untreated sewage discharge in Delhi
Jun 21, 2025 05:34 AM IST Public Works Department (PWD) minister Parvesh Verma on Friday ordered immediate action against the discharge of untreated sewage and industrial waste in the Capital, PWD said in a statement. Delhi cabinet minister Parvesh Verma. (HT Photo) The concerned departments were ordered to inspect commercial, industrial, and all other establishments which are legally mandated to have Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) or Effluent Treatment Plants (ETPs) installed and operating. The inspections are meant to ensure that the plants have been properly installed and are fully functional, and that the establishments are complying with existing environmental norms. Legal action will be taken against any establishment which is found to be violating these norms, and penalties will be enforced under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974. A centralised monitoring system will be created in the form of a real-time electronic dashboard, which will track inspections, violations, and corrective actions. The concerned departments have also been instructed to coordinate with each other to eliminate bureaucratic delays, and to submit bi-monthly compliance reports to the minister's office. 'This is a crisis that can no longer be ignored. Delhi cannot afford to let untreated sewage flow into its lifelines. No polluter will be spared. We will act, and act fast,' said Verma.
Time of India
19 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Delhi govt directs strict enforcement of sewage and effluent treatment norms
New Delhi: Delhi govt instructed the DPCC to enforce strict compliance with the mandatory installation and functioning of Sewage and Effluent Treatment Plants across all relevant premises. They are to conduct time-bound inspections to verify installation and operational efficiency, ensuring treated effluents meet prescribed standards. An E-Dashboard will also be developed for real-time monitoring, with bi-monthly reports submitted. PWD minister Parvesh Verma issued strict orders for immediate action against the illegal discharge of untreated sewage and industrial waste across industrial and commercial establishments and all relevant establishments in the capital. Terming water pollution a serious threat to both public health and ecological sustainability, the minister directed all relevant departments to launch an intensive inspection and enforcement campaign, ensuring 100% compliance with existing environmental norms. "This is a crisis that can no longer be ignored. Delhi cannot afford to let untreated sewage flow into its lifelines. No polluter will be spared. We will act, and act fast," said Verma. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch CFD với công nghệ và tốc độ tốt hơn IC Markets Đăng ký Undo The directives given are for all departments to conduct time-bound inspections across industrial and commercial establishments and all relevant establishments that are legally required to install and operate Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) or Effluent Treatment Plants (ETPs). Inspections must ensure proper installation and fully functional operations. Strict legal action will be taken against any establishment found violating prescribed norms. Penalties will be enforced under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, with no exemptions or delays. A real-time e-dashboard will be created to track inspections, violations and corrective actions. All departments must submit bi-monthly compliance reports to the minister's office for review and accountability. Verma, in a post on X, also said: "Every day since coming to power in Delhi, we are uncovering the new truth, drains fully choked, lines never desilted, and zero groundwork done in the last 10 years. This is the real legacy of the Kejriwal govt. 70% PWD drains desilted till now, so instead of lecturing us, AAP leaders should answer what exactly they did when they were in power," he said. "Why were Delhi's drains not cleaned properly year after year? Why was there no long-term planning for flood management? Why were crores allocated to agencies like DJB and I&FC, but the city still drowns after every rainfall? CM Rekha Gupta is actively working, reviewing projects, visiting sites and holding officials accountable," he said. Hitting back, AAP Delhi president Saurabh Bharadwaj said with MCD, Delhi govt, NDMC, and DDA all under BJP's control, it has no excuse to pass the buck. Every drain in Delhi falls under BJP-ruled agencies. "BJP is exposed as Delhi reels under waterlogging every time it rains. Rekha Gupta and LG must answer for apathy, corruption, and negligence," he said. Any desilting exercise which didn't happen on the ground in the last 2 years amounts to corruption, which LG refused to investigate despite it being flagged by then UD Minister, he said.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Arsenic, plastic in Indus: Ladakh launches army-civilian cleaning drive
Denny generated AI image SRINAGAR: Alarmed by the unhealthy level of arsenic in the Indus waters, Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC) on Thursday decided to launch a large-scale community-driven cleanliness campaign involving Army, ITBP, BRO, local bodies, and the public. Recent water tests have revealed that the arsenic levels in the Indus waters are more than that found in treated sewage plants. Calling the findings 'deeply concerning and unacceptable,' LAHDC chairman Tashi Gyalson directed the Leh additional DC to form flying squads at the sub-divisional level to identify vulnerable stretches and prevent garbage dumping and the discharge of untreated sewage into the river. A district-level committee will monitor progress, oversee interventions, and formulate future strategies. Gyalson said, 'And more than that (arsenic), plastic dumping in the river has aggravated the pollution problem. We will not allow the river to become a dumping ground. This river is not just a waterbody. It is sacred, worshipped, and essential to life here.' He chaired a meeting attended by senior officials from civil administration, army, and ITBP, calling for an urgent coordinated action involving municipal committees, rural and urban development bodies, and the public. Representatives of the trade and hotel industries attended the meeting. Chief wildlife warden, Sajjad Mufti, has been directed to invoke relevant bylaws under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, or other applicable laws, to ensure strict penalties are slapped on flouters.
Time of India
6 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Citizen-candidate dialogue aims to address state's burning social & environ issues
Ludhiana: A civic engagement programme was organised by PAC Mattewara, along with various environmental and social organisations from across Punjab, at Leisure Valley here Sunday. Titled "Our Issues, Your Stand", the event aimed to hold political candidates accountable by directly confronting them on pressing public issues just four days before Ludhiana West goes to polls. In a unique format, candidates and representatives moved from stand to stand, each manned by an NGO or civil rights group, responding to pointed questions on critical issues. Only two candidates and a representative of another took part in the event. They were Navneet Kumar Gopi, candidate of Akali Dal Amritsar (Mann group), Parupkar Singh Ghuman, SAD candidate and Gurdeep Singh Gosha, who came on behalf of BJP candidate Jiwan Gupta. The NGOs and rights groups raked up issues like the proposed urban estates on 25,000 acres of agricultural land, chemical-laced wastewater being let out into the Buddha Dariya, the setting up of a new paper mill at Chamkaur Sahib on the banks of the Buddha Dariya and Neelon canal, alleged encroachment of land belonging to schools and colleges, lifting of the ban on plastic bags and single-use plastic items, rampant encroachment of green belts, amendment of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, the unresolved Mattewara land issue, Punjab's looming water crisis, and appointment of outsiders to constitutional, govt, and political posts in Punjab. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch vàng CFDs với sàn môi giới tin cậy IC Markets Tìm hiểu thêm Undo Thanking the candidates who could make it to the programme, Amandeep Bains and Jaskirat Singh of PAC (Mattewara) said, "Those who do not have the time or inclination to listen to the issues of the people just four days before polling, what can we expect from them after they win the election?" Activists Kapil Arora and Kuldeep Singh Khaira thanked the teams of Chamkaur Sahib Morcha, Zira Sanjha Morcha, Batala Bachao Morcha, Mattewara Morcha, among others, who came from far-off places, especially for the programme, and asked the right questions. Col JS Gill, Brij Bhushan Goyal, Preet Dhanoa, Gurpreet Plaha, Amrita Mangat, Mohit Saggar from PAC, Karan Kandhola from Chamkaur Sahib Morcha, Gurmel Singh and Roman Brar from Zira Sanjha Morcha, Param Sunil Kaur from Batala Bachao Morcha, and Kashmir Singh from Sekhowal village were present with their team members.
