Chandigarh: “The problem of ‘Nallahs’ (Drains) flowing in major cities of the State would be tackled in an effective way and these ‘Nallahs’ will be turned into green belts.”
This was disclosed here today by the Local Government Minister, Punjab, Navjot Singh Sidhu on the occasion of the inking of an MoU between the Punjab Government and National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI). The MoU was inked by the Principal Secretary Local Government Department, Punjab, A. Venu Prasad and Scientist & Head NEERI Dr. S.K. Goyal. On the occasion Advisor to the Local Government Department, Punjab, Dr. Amar Singh, Director Karnesh Sharma, CEO Punjab Municipal Infrastructure Development Company (PMIDC) Ajoy Sharma and Senior Scientist NEERI Dr. Raman Sharma were also present.
Terming the pathetic condition of the ‘Nallahs’ as alarming situation for Punjab, Sidhu said that nallahs were covered at places and shops were made on that preventing the de-siliting as well. Nallahs in Punjab had become the dumping grounds for the Industrial waste, building material and dead animals, completing making the place an eyesore and toxic. This needed to stop and solution was needed which has been found now.
Sidhu further said that this project to clean the ‘Nallahs’ will be launched in a phased manner from March this year in the cities of Punjab including Amritsar, Jalandhar, Patiala and Budha Nallah of Ludhiana. The Minister also examined a detailed presentation by the NEERI team.
The minister also divulged that once these projects are complete, these ‘Nallah’s that are eyesores and give pungent smells will turn into lungs of the cities. He further said that this technology by NEERI would see plantation being done in the ‘Nallahs’ and water will be cleaned by using advanced technology. Moreover the water treated through this technology will be fit for gardening, flushing and even irrigation.
The minister further said that cost of Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) upgradation and maintenance would be 1/4thof that of the upgradation to SBR technology.
The Minister expressed strong hope that things would change for the better in around two years after the formalities are completed.