The Lawrence Road and Okhla Common Effluent Treatment Plants were issued a showcause notice by the National Green Tribunal on Friday, asking them why an environmental compensation not be imposed on them for lack of upkeep and performance.
Both these plants have been found to be releasing treated water with high bio-chemical oxygen demand (BoD) of 30 milligram per litre into the Yamuna river.
BoD is the amount of dissolved oxygen needed by aerobic biological organisms in a water body to break down organic material.
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High BoD is an indicator of the level of organic pollution of water.
The CETP at Lawrence Road is maintained by the DSIIDC, while the one at Okhla was made by the DSIIDC and later handed over to the Okhla CETP Society.
The NGT has now sought evidence asking why they be not asked to pay environmental compensation.
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Representatives of the Okhla CETP society averred that the Delhi Jal Board, while removing silt/sludge, was pushing it into the conveyer system of their plant. “We may notice at this stage itself that the DSIIDC itself has produced report by the NEERI where it is recorded that maintenance of this plant is extremely poor, and suggested short terms and long term measures, which include de-slugging of the equalization tank and upgradation of maintenance standards of the filters appropriately. Similar are the state of affairs with the Okhla Plant,” the bench said on Friday.
A day before, the Bench had suggested the CEPTs take expert advice from Central Pollution Control Board or any other agency to upgrade their systems.
It even cited example of certain hotels, which installed efficient effluent treatment plants in very little time.
The matter will now come up for hearing on August 3.