TDP News Desk
Itanagar, Apr 11: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed the state government and the Itanagar Municipal Corporation to submit counter affidavits detailing the steps taken to address sewage pollution in the Senki, Pachin and Dikrong rivers.
The tribunal issued the order on April 8 while hearing a petition alleging non-compliance with its earlier directives issued on 5 January 2023, and 25 August 2022. The petitioner contended that despite repeated instructions, untreated sewage continued to be discharged into the rivers, posing a significant threat to the environment and public health.
The NGT had earlier directed the state to ensure that no untreated or even treated sewage be allowed to flow into the three rivers. It had also mandated the Arunachal Pradesh State Pollution Control Board (APSPCB) to conduct quarterly water quality monitoring by collecting samples upstream and downstream and to submit compliance reports. The tribunal had fixed January 15, last year, as the deadline for filing the compliance report.
However, the petitioners submitted that the orders had not been adhered to, prompting the tribunal to seek detailed affidavits from the state and the municipal corporation on the establishment of adequate faecal sludge treatment plants (FSTPs) to manage the sewage generated in the capital region.
Investigations identified multiple sources of pollution contributing to the degradation of the rivers. The Yagamso stream, flowing through Itanagar, was found to be carrying about 50 per cent of the sewage entering the Senki River. Similarly, the Lagun River in Naharlagun was cited as a major contributor to the pollution of the Senki, Pachin and Dikrong rivers.
Scientific studies conducted on the Dikrong River also revealed elevated levels of Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) and phosphate concentrations, particularly in areas like Barapani and A Sector. The contamination has been attributed to the discharge of untreated domestic sewage, hospital waste and effluents from slaughterhouses.
The tribunal observed that reports submitted by the APSPCB were "extremely sketchy and unreliable" and lacked essential data regarding water sampling locations, pollution levels and remedial measures.
Expressing concern over the slow pace of action, the NGT stressed the urgency of establishing adequate sewage treatment infrastructure and implementing effective measures to prevent further contamination of the rivers.
The tribunal has asked the state government and the municipal corporation to submit their responses before the next date of the hearing.
