PROPOSED ACTION PLAN FOR REJUVENATION OF RIVER WAINGANGA AT CHHAPARA DISTRICT SEONI Submitted by REGIONAL OFFICE M.P. POLLUTION CONTROL BOARD JABALPUR PROPOSED ACTION PLAN FOR REJUVENATION OF WAINGANGA RIVER AT CHHAPARA DISTRICT SEONI 1.0 BACKGROUND 1.1 NGT Case No. 673/2018 : Hon'ble National Green Tribunal Central Zonal Bench New Delhi, in the matter of original application no. 673/2018 (News Item Published in the "Hindu" authored by Shri Jacob Koshy titled “More river stretches are now critically polluted: CPCB") passed an order on 20/09/2018. The para 48, 49 and 50.3 of this order are relevant to comply. The para 48 states that "it is absolutely necessary that Action Plans are prepared to restore the polluted river stretches to the prescribed standards", Para 49 states that "Model Action Plan for Hindon River, already provided by CPCB may also be taken into account" In para 50(i, ii, iii) Hon'ble National Green Tribunal has issued following directions:- i. All States and Union Territories are directed to prepare action plans within two months for bringing all the polluted river stretches to be fit at least for bathing purposes (i.e. BOD < 3 mg/L and TC <500 MPN/100 ml) within six months from the date of finalization of the action plans. ii. The action plans may be prepared by four-member Committee comprising, Director, Environment, Director Urban Development, Director Industries, Member Secretary State Pollution Control Board of concerned state. This Committee will also be the monitoring Committee for execution of the action plan. The Committee may be called "River Rejuvenation Committee" (RRC). The RRC will function under the overall supervision and coordination of Principal Secretary, Environment of the concerned State/Union Territory. iii. The action plan will include components like identification of polluting sources including functioning / status of STPs/ETPs/CETP and solid waste management and processing facilities, quantification and characterization of solid waste, trade and sewage generated in the catchment area of polluted river stretch. The action plan will address issues relating to: ground water extraction, adopting good irrigation practices, protection and management of Flood Plain Zones (FPZ), rain water harvesting, ground water charging maintaining minimum environmental flow of river and plantation on both sides of the river. Setting up of biodiversity parks on flood plains by removing encroachment shall also be considered as an important component for river rejuvenation. The action plan should focus on proper interception and diversion of sewage carrying drains to the Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) and emphasis should be on utilization of treated sewage so as to minimize extraction of ground or surface water. The action plan should have speedy, definite or specific timelines for execution of steps. Provision may be made to pool the resources, utilizing funds from State budgets, local bodies, State Pollution Control Board/ Committee and out of Central Schemes. 1.2 Polluted River Stretch of Waingang ā :In para 47 of above order dated 20/09/2019, the polluted river stretch of Waingang ā River has been mentioned as " Chhindwara to Balaghat". In fact, no stretch of River Waingang ā exists in Chhindwara district. The river originates from Talab of Village Mundwara District Seoni and passes through Chhapara, Keolari towns of Seoni District and 1 then enter in Balaghat District. Balaghat city is located approx 3 km from bank of the River. After approx. 250 Km travel from origin in state of MP, it enters in to the state of Maharashtra. The River stretch may be observed in Figure 1. Water quality monitoring of the River at Chhapara, Balaghat and near Budunda (State Boundary) is carried out every month and at Keolari once in 3 months. Presently, in water quality of the River at all locations, BOD is found less than 3.0 mg/L and water quality conforms ‘A’ category as designated in IS:2296-1982. Characteristic of surface Waters . Water quality of the River at at Chhapara, Keolari, Balaghat and Budunda may be observed in Annexure -1 Chapara is located very close to the River and two main nalla namely Moti Nala and Chamariya nala join the River at Chapara. The nalas receive waste water from the Town. It has been observed that except monsoon season and rains, both nallas become dry prior to meet the River. During rains when rain water with polluted water containing septic tanks over flow / Sullage etc meet to the river, water quality is likely to be degraded specially during initial rains. However as per earlier reports the Board has identified the River at Chhapara form mixing point of Moti Nala and Chamariya Nala to Road Bridge of NH-7 as polluted stretch. Length of this polluted stretch is approx 600-700 meters. Google Image of Waingang ā River in District- Seoni & Balaghatat (M.P.) Keolari is located on bank river Sagar which meets the River Waingang ā after approx 2 approx Km downstream. Population is approx 15000. No waste water directly meets in Waingang ā River. Water quality monitoring of Waingang ā river at Keolari is carried out quarterly by MPPCB and water quality of the River was not found polluted as BOD is found less than 3mg/L at Keolari and conform the Category ‘A’ as designated in IS:2296-1982. Characteristic of Surface Waters, therefore the River has no polluted stretch near Keolari. 2 Balaghat city is located approx 3 to 5 Km from River Waingangā. Population of the City is approx 84230 (As per 2011 Census) and presently population is approx 95000. Waste water generated from the city flows in open drains and ultimately in the Nalas which flow long distance before joining to the River Waingang ā. Therefore water quality of river Waingang ā at Balaghat is not affected. Water quality monitoring at Balaghat & at village Budunda (at inter state boundary) is carried out every month and BOD is found less than 3 mg/L at both the places and conform the Category ‘A’ as designated in IS:2296-1982. Characteristic of Surface Waters, therefore, the River has no polluted stretch near Balaghat. As described above it is submitted that water quality of river Wainganga at Keolari and Balaghat is conform the Category “A”. Stretch of the River at Chhapara which is approximately 600 to 700 meters starting from meeting point of Moti Nala and up to Road bridge of NH-7 may be considered as polluted stretch per earlier report and due to discharge storm water containing waste water of the Town . 2.0 River Waingang ā at village Chhapara and Pollution Status : Chhapara is a located on the bank of river Waingang ā. Population is 18,320 as per 2011 census and present population is approx 22000 . Domestic waste water of the town is flows in to two Nalas namely Moti Nala and Chamariya Nala. These two Nalas meet in to the River and water quality of the river may be affected. During dry seasons waste water do not reach to the river and these Nalas generally observed dried but during rains waste water mixing with storm water reaches to the river. Chamariya Nala comes from up side (North) of the town and meets in to the river. It passes through mid of the town and receives most of the domestic waste, may be considered of approx 60 to 70 % of the population. Moti Nala also comes from western side of the town and receives approx 30 to 40 % of waste of through local drains. Satellite Image of Waingang ā River showing Nala’s at Chhapara may be observed in Figure 2 3 Fig – 2 : Satellite Image of Waingang ā River showing Nala’s at Chhapara, Distt. Seoni (M.P.) Municipal solid waste generating from the town is approx 2 ton / day. The village Panchayat does not have any solid waste management and disposal facility and the waste is dumped on open grounds within Panchayat area which also creates unhygienic conditions and pollution problems in the River specially during rainy season when leaching may occur. 3.0 Water Quality Goal : Waingang ā river is a perennial river and water is used for drinking purpose by near by towns and cities and villages and for irrigation as well as for power generation. Bheemgarh dam is on the river which fulfill the water supply for drinking and irrigation. Water quality of the river at village Chhapara after meeting Moti Nala and Chamariya Nala is degraded, which should be revived. Waste water coming from these nala should be treated prior to discharge in to the river. To prevent meeting of any type of pollution in the river at Chhapara various stake holders viz. Local Village Panchayat, Janpad Panchayat, Zila Panchayat, Rural Engineering Department, Public Health Engineering Department, Water Resources Department, Forest Department etc. have been asked to submit action plan considering the order of Hon’ble NGT. A copy of the letter is annexed as Annexure -2. As per the NGT order, industrial effluent generated in the catchment of the river be also considered in action plan. It is submitted that no industry is located in the near by area within Village panchayat Chhapara and in the near by area also. 4.0 The Basis of Proposed Action Plan for Rejuvenation of River Waingang ā 4 at Chhapara : Domestic waste water generating from village panchayat Chhapara is main source of pollution in to the River, which should be collected and treated prior to discharge in to the river. Details of Nalas have been submitted above. Similarly Municipal Solid Waste should also be collected and disposed properly as per Solid Waste Management Rules 2016.