National Green Tribunal
Article Published In Stawa Magazine ... vs Coram: Hon'Ble Mr. Justice Adarsh Kumar ... on 6 April, 2023
Author: Adarsh Kumar Goel
Bench: Adarsh Kumar Goel
Item No. 02 Court No. 1
BEFORE THE NATIONAL GREEN TRIBUNAL
PRINCIPAL BENCH, NEW DELHI
(By Video Conference)
Original Application No. 206/2023
In re: Article published in Stawa Magazine titled "Water in Ladakh :
Elixir or Poison?"
Date of hearing: 06.04.2023
CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE ADARSH KUMAR GOEL, CHAIRPERSON
HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SUDHIR AGARWAL, JUDICIAL MEMBER
HON'BLE DR. A. SENTHIL VEL, EXPERT MEMBER
Respondent: Mr Raj Kumar Advocate for LPCC and Ladakh Union Territory
Administration
ORDER
1. Proceedings have been initiated suo motu in the light of captioned media report about water pollution in Ladakh.
2. In pursuance of advance notice dated 15.03.2023 issued by Registry of this Tribunal to Deputy Commissioner, Leh, Municipal Committee, Leh and Leh Irrigation and Flood Control Department, response has been filed by the Deputy Commissioner, Leh as follows:
" Sl Issues Raised Response No. From Leh From Kargil 1
1. What is the 4 no. of public toilets are Presently, there is no status of sewage connected with sewage sewage system in the pipeline connectivity pipeline. Presently 48 km town. The households with the toilets? sewer network is laid under are currently using existing sewerage system septic tank as well as which is just 30% of total soak pit for sewage required sewer network. management. However, 123 km sewer network is proposed under the Kargil City has a 10 KLD development of sewerage Faecal Sludge system for left out area of Leh Treatment Plant town to cater the total sewage which is operational, demand which is 9 MLD for and desludging is intermediate stage 2040. done for households The remaining sewage is when the septic tank as stored in Septic tank as well well as soak pits are full. as soak pits which is then desludged through suction The DPR is under machines and treated at the progress for existing operational Faecal development of Sewage Sludge Treatment Plant of 12 system Kargil. KLD capacity.
2. How many Out of 6,820 households (as No households are houses and per Niti Aayog Report, connected with commercial 2021 on "Waste-Wise sewerage system as establishments Cities: Best Practices in there is no sewage are connected municipal solid waste system in the town. with sewage management"), 2,884 system? Number of households are those are not connected with the connected with sewage system. sewage system.
3. Number of STPs The city has 3 MLD STP with Currently, there is no have been SBR technology and is located existing STP in the installed and at Agling area. town. However, it is their capacity to proposed to construct 6 treat. STPs. The DPR for STPs are in progress.
Awaiting land clearance from the DC, Kargil.
Once the land is available for STPs, the administrative approval and Technical Sanction shall be obtained. It is likely that the tender for the works shall in initiated in the present financial year.2
4. Total generation Current sewage generation Approximate current of sewage and its rate is 8.18 MLD (including generation is 4.6 MLD. treatment. infiltration) but only 3 MLD Currently, this STP is functional. Thus, the net generated sewage is demand of treatment for not being treated in current sewage generation is any STP. Around 10.8 5.18 MLD for year 2023. MLD capacity of sewerage system, STP is proposed.
The DPR for STPs are in progress. Awaiting land clearance from the DC, Kargil. Once the land is available for STPs, the administrative approval and Technical Sanction shall be obtained. It is likely that the tender for the works shall in initiated in the present financial year.
5. Gap between 3 MLD STP is not Currently, no the treatment of sufficient to cater the sewage is being sewage and current demand of treated in STP. DPR untreated sewage treatment. The for sewerage sewage. Steps existing Gap is of 5.18 scheme along with taken to meet MLD and to meet the gap, sewage treatment out the gap. an underground plant is under sewerage system for left out preparation. areas of Leh town is proposed The DPR for STPs which was not covered in are in progress. earlier sewage project. Awaiting land Proposed sewer clearance from the network is of 126 km and net DC, Kargil. Once the land demand of sewage treatment is available for is 9 MLD (after deduction of STPs, the present STP administrative capacity) for the approval and intermediate stage 2040. DPR Technical Sanction finalization of project is under shall be obtained. It process. is likely that the The project will be tender for the works tendered out this year as shall in initiated in the DPR for the the present financial Sewerage system is in year.
finalization stage.
6. Disposal Landscaping project is being Currently, DPR for mechanism of developed besides the Agling sewerage network is treated sewage STP where treated water can under preparation. and reuse of be Reused for beautification The technology treated water to purpose. proposed for reduce the fresh Strategy for reuse of treated treatment is MBBR water water has been finalised by the (Moving Bed Bio film consumption. department for existing 3 MLD Reactor) and treated operational STP. water is proposed to be The project implementation will discharged in the Suru be carried out this year. River.3
The major objective of the reuse strategy is to use 100% of treated wastewater generated from STP. This treated wastewater is proposed to be used for irrigation, landscaping and beautification purpose and in surrounding areas by identifying probable bulk users to avoid discharge in Indus River.
The major components of
network design are as
follows:
i. Treated wastewater
Tank with pumping
arrangements either at
STP area or at
Landscape site.
ii. Transmission mains
and distribution piped
network to supply treated
wastewater to individual
user parcel
iii. Tanker feeding point
at Tank to supply
intermittent and incidental usages like construction, vehicle washing etc. iv. Recharge structures at Landscape site v. Command control centre at STP or landscape site to monitor the supply during summer and winter seasons.
7. Industries those are The industrial waste water in Data not available discharging its the Industrial Estate Leh are with H&UDD. untreated water dumped into pits and septic Industries related into rivers or drains tanks being constructed by the data are available or other water entrepreneurs however, with Industries and bodies. periodical checkups are being Commerce department.
done by the field officer/officials for proper treated of waste water. As per the new industrial policy 2023 notified on 17/01/2023, Waste water recycling and waste water management will be reimbursed @50% of total expenditure incurred towards the procurement of water waste management technology etc. 4
8. How many As per out latest survey as on Data not available domestic and 31-12-2022 there are 927 bore- with H&UDD. commercial wells in Leh town including establishments are defence establishment. extracting ground water including the As per the notification of defence UT Administration dated establishments. 18 th April 2022 all the Whether they have existing borewell users the permissions to have been asked to extract the ground register their borewells water or not? with the department and meters will be installed to all registered borewells to regulate the usage.
Till date, 13 nos. of borewells registered with the Deptt Leh 76 Nos of applications is under process for Registration of borewells.
9. The action taken Notices have been issued to all Data not available against the violators. the existing users to get their with H&UDD.
borewells register with the The LPCC or the Department for regularization Municipal corporation may kindly be requested to take action against the violators.
10. Operational status The 3 MLD STP is Operational No STP is of the STP qua to at Agling location, and the Functional in treatment quality. Treatment Quality Standards are as the city.
follows:
Average Val Results Parameters Sludge generated per month 3000kg/mont Sludge generated per year 36000kg/ye a Bod(inlet) 275mg/l Bod(outlet) 5.6mg/l Cod(inlet) 577.5mg/l Cod(outlet) 22.0mg/l 754millisimen m Conductivity(inlet) 330millisimen m Conductivity(outlet) Ph(inlet) 6.5 5 Ph(outlet) 7 Tkn(inlet) 65mg/l Tkn(outlet) 4.6mg/l Total phosphorus (inlet)
3.5mg/l Total phosphorus (outlet) 0.0mg/l 9 Fecal coliform 40000(mpn/10 (inlet) 0 ml) Fecal coliform (outlet) 42(mpn/100ml) 10 Tds(inlet) 200mg/l Tds(outlet) 140mg/l 11 Tss(inlet) 150mg/l Tss(outlet) 15mg/l 12 Dissolved oxygen (inlet) 0.0mg/l Dissolved oxygen (outlet) 6.0mg/l 13 Nitrate nitrogen (inlet) 6.0mg/l Nitrate nitrogen (outlet) 3.0mg/l 14 Ammonical nitrogen (inlet) 6.5mg/l Ammonical nitrogen (outlet) 2.5mg/l 15 Residual chlorine (inlet) 0.0mg/l Residual chlorine (outlet) 0.6mg/l
11. What is status of The drains of Leh Nallah and Shenam Data not drains? Whether nallah which are the main drains in Available with they carry any Leh town are free from any Industrial H&UD D. industrial waste or waste. not?
612. Source of pollution in Sample location mentioned in said Data the water bodies and report shall be tested and verified not ground water. through govt. Laboratory. Water testing available with laboratory of PHE Department has H&UD D. been open to public since 3/11/2020 for testing private sample for its potability.
Disposal of untreated waste (sewage) directly into Ground (through soak pit) could be the reason for ground water contamination which needs further investigation.
Response for Leh City Response for Kargil City In Leh city 30% of households are All households in the city have existing twin pit/ connected to the existing sewerage Septic tank as well as soak pits in which the system which is connected to an daily Sewage generated from households is operational 3 MLD STP located at collected which is then desludged through Agling area. All households in the city Suction Machines and taken to 10 KLD FSTP have existing twin pit/ Septic tank as plant for treatment and disposal. No well as soak pits in which the daily wastewater is discharged into water bodies or Sewage generated from households on land. is collected which is then desludged through Suction Machines and taken to 12 KLD FSTP plant for treatment and disposal. No wastewater is discharged into water bodies or on "
land.
3. We also had interaction with the Chief Secretary, Ladakh in OA No. 606/2018 (In respect of UT Ladakh) which has been dealt with by a separate order today dealing with the issue of scientific management of solid and liquid waste in Ladakh. In the said matter, detailed directions have been issued.
4. In view of above, further remedial measures be taken in the light of order passed today in OA No. 606/2018 separately which include directions for requiring all commercial units in Ladakh to set up their own decentralized STPs and to utilize treated water for gardening and other non-contact purposes.
The application is disposed of.7
A copy of this order be forwarded to Deputy Commissioners, Leh by e-mail for compliance.
Adarsh Kumar Goel, CP Sudhir Agarwal, JM Dr. A. Senthil Vel, EM April 6, 2023 Original Application No. 206/2023 DV 8