Punjab: Six districts throwing untreated waste into Chenab

[Naveed Yaseen]

By Ali Raza
SIX districts in Punjab are throwing untreated industrial effluents and municipal sewage water into the Chenab River resulting in a serious threat to the aquatic life in the river as well as the ecosystem.

Sources in Environmental Protection Department (EPD), Punjab, revealed that the department conducted a detailed survey of the river to gauge its pollution level and got terrifying results. They said there were some 15 points from where untreated toxic industrial effluents and municipal sewage was going into the river increasing the pollution every day.

According to an EPD source, 9000 million gallons of wastewater, having 20,000 tons of BOD5 loading, are daily discharged into water bodies from the industrial sector. Automobile service stations are another major contributor to surface water pollution. Untreated oil, grease and dirt find its way into nearby canals and rivers where it damages the ecosystem.

Sources, while going through the report, said that 15 points from where polluted water was going into the river were situated in six districts. Out of the 15 points, four are situated in District Gujrat, two in District Mandi Bahauddin, four in District Jhang (two each in Tehsil Chinot and Tehsil jhang), three in District Multan and one each in District Hafizabad and District Sargodha.

Besides these districts, Upper Jehlum Canal is also disposing industrial effluents into the river, sources said, adding five drains from the above mentioned six districts, carrying municipal and industrial effluents, are throwing toxic water into the river. These drains are Marh Drain and Paharang Drain in Chiniot, Ahmedwala and Karewala drains in District Jhang and Buddhi Nullah in District Sargodha.

However, the monitoring report claimed that overall situation regarding dissolved oxygen in Chenab River is favorable to support aquatic life but the situation, if not controlled immediately, could be changed.

EPD sources said waste water of Multan city was the biggest threat to the river because there was no wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) in the city due to which untreated industrial as well as municipal waste was going into the river. Sources said the Punjab government had approved installation of WWTP at Suraj Miani site near Multan and the PC-1 of the project was under preparation.

Likewise, no wastewater treatment plants are installed in the cities of Jhang, Chinot and Gujrat and untreated water is going into the river, sources said adding there was no plan to install wastewater treatment plants in these cities in near future.

A report of WWF-Pakistan said fresh water was fundamental to the survival of humans and most other land-based life forms. It said growing population, increased economic activity and industrialization had resulted in an increased demand for fresh water. It added that rapid urbanization was changing the patterns of water consumption, which caused a severe misuse of water resources.

The report maintained that discharging untreated sewage and chemical wastes directly into rivers, lakes and drains had become a traditional habit and in Pakistan, water was mainly used for industrial, agricultural and domestic purposes. It said that municipal sewage was a major source of pollution. About two million wet tones of human excreta are annually produced in the urban sector of which around 50 per cent go into water bodies to pollute them. National Conservation Strategy (NCS) states that almost 40 per cent of deaths are related to water borne diseases.

Domestic wastewater collects on the streets and in low-lying areas. The situation is further aggravated by the addition of untreated wastes from small-scale industries.

The report further said that industrial wastewater contained toxic chemicals and it was alarming that most industries had been started without proper planning and waste treatment plants. They just dispose of untreated toxic waste into nearby drains, canals or rivers. Lahore, Faisalabad, Karachi and Sialkot contribute major pollution loads into their water bodies, the report claimed.

Another report of World Health Organization (WHO) says that 25-30 per cent of all hospital admissions are connected to water borne bacterial and parasitic conditions, with 60 per cent of infant deaths caused by water infections.

WWF-Pakistan’s report revealed that water pollution extended a savage threat to wildlife in the country because animals drink water out of polluted water bodies, ailing ponds, rivers and streams. This sickens the animals and some may even die. Extreme pollution of Ravi river has destroyed the once existing 42 species of fish and the bird life around the river has migrated to other areas. Survival of small invertebrates, micro fauna and flora is also threatened.

The report suggested the government to identify industrial units that are the biggest polluters of river water. If National Environmental Quality Standards (NEQS) regarding wastewater were strictly enforced, these industries would have to reduce and treat their waste prior to disposal. A regular qualitative and quantitative monitoring of fresh water resources should also be done. Construction of proper sanitary landfill sites and investigation of ground water quality are among the other recommendations of the report.

Naseemur Rehman, a senior EPD official, said Paharang drain was disposing of treated water into the river, as the only municipal waste water treatment plant in the province was installed on this drain and was fully operative. Talking about the other points from where untreated wastewater is entering into the river, he said the department had asked all the concerned district governments to plan immediate installation of both industrial and municipal wastewater treatment plants in their respective districts.

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