Activated Carbon Systems to Be Installed at 24 STPs to Reduce Odour, Rs. 3,865.806 Lakh to Be Spent: Ranbir Gangwa

Public Health Engineering Minister Chairs Key Review Meeting at Civil Secretariat, Directs Officials to Prioritise Farmers’ Complaints and Quality of Treated Wastewater

SEs, XENs and SDOs from Across Haryana Join Virtually; Circle-Wise Review of Projects Worth Rs. 25 Crore and Above Conducted

Chandigarh,

In a major initiative to provide relief to residents and farmers from foul odour around sewage treatment plants (STPs), the Haryana Government is preparing to install activated carbon-based systems at 24 STPs across the state. The initiative, aimed at reducing odour from treated wastewater, is estimated to cost Rs. 3,865.806 lakh. Public Health Engineering and Public Works Minister Sh. Ranbir Gangwa has directed officials to take the issue of foul odour around STPs seriously, implement effective measures to improve the quality of treated wastewater and ensure priority redressal of farmers’ complaints.

Sh. Ranbir Gangwa was chairing a review meeting of Public Health Engineering Department officials at the Haryana Civil Secretariat. During the meeting, major projects costing Rs. 25 crore and above were reviewed circle-wise. Additional Secretary of the Department, Smt. Renu Sogan, Engineer-in-Chief Sh. Devender Dahiya and other senior officials attended the meeting in person, while Superintending Engineers (SEs), Executive Engineers (XENs) and Sub-Divisional Engineers (SDOs) from across the state joined through video conferencing.

The Minister said complaints regarding foul odour around STPs and the quality of treated wastewater were frequently received from farmers and local residents. He directed the department to ensure that the quality of water improves after treatment and that its use does not cause inconvenience to people living in surrounding areas. He also instructed officials to expedite work related to the proposed activated carbon-based systems and take immediate action on complaints raised by farmers. A total of 25 STPs have been identified across the state for this initiative. These plants have a combined treatment capacity of 230.5 million litres per day (MLD) and receive approximately 171.13 MLD of sewage daily. Of these, activated carbon systems have been proposed at 24 STPs, at an estimated cost of Rs. 3,865.806 lakh.

Activated Carbon Systems to Be Installed at These Locations

Under the department's plan, activated carbon systems are proposed at STPs located in Chhachhrauli, Manakpur in Pinjore and Maujgarh Road in Barara under the Ambala Circle. In the Hisar Circle, the proposed locations include Rishi Nagar, Rajgarh Road, Kaimri Road and Satrod in Hisar; Lalpura Road and Bhiwani Road in Hansi; and Hansi-Jind Road in Narnaund. Under the Jind Circle, the plan covers STPs at Hansi Road, Old Hansi Road and Narwana Road in Jind; near the Community Health Centre (CHC) in Julana; and at Rampura village in Safidon.

Similarly, in the Sirsa Circle, activated carbon systems are proposed at STPs on Kharati Khera Road and Bhattu Road in Fatehabad and Kulan Road in Bhuna. In the Bhiwani Circle, the proposed locations include Dadri Road and Dhana Road in Bhiwani, Tosham Road in Siwani and the STP near the cremation ground in Loharu. The installation of activated carbon-based systems at these locations is aimed at reducing odour from treated wastewater and promoting its reuse.

Officials Directed to Strengthen Field Monitoring to Ensure Safe Drinking Water

During the meeting, a circle-wise review of major Public Health Engineering Department projects costing Rs. 25 crore and above was conducted. The progress of projects, utilisation of budgets and quality of construction work were assessed. Sh. Ranbir Gangwa directed officials to accelerate development works without compromising quality at any stage. He said providing clean and safe drinking water to the people was the department's foremost responsibility.

The Minister said water is the foundation of life and holds special significance in Indian tradition. He emphasised that senior departmental officers should not remain confined to their offices but should regularly visit the field to inspect drinking water supply arrangements, water quality and ongoing development works. Wherever deficiencies or complaints are reported, immediate corrective action must be ensured.

Farmers Must Not Face Any Inconvenience; Special Attention Must Be Paid to Water Quality: Ranbir Gangwa

Sh. Ranbir Gangwa said ensuring the quality of treated wastewater was essential to increasing its reuse for irrigation and other purposes. Farmers should not face any difficulty in using treated water. He directed officials to personally inspect sites wherever complaints regarding foul odour around STPs or the quality of treated wastewater are received and ensure their resolution within a stipulated time frame. The Minister said the government's objective was to ensure effective treatment of sewage and facilitate its safe and productive reuse.