Compliance report by the Central Pollution Control Board in the matter of K P Singh & Others Vs Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board & Others dated June 12, 2023.

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) vide order, January 30, 2023 directed the CPCB to verify whether any sewage and other wastes are flowing in the storm water drains of Prahlad Garhi village and its adjoining area in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh.

The CPCB along with officials of the Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board and Ghaziabad Nagar Nigam inspected the drainage system to verify the status of compliance reported by the Ghaziabad Nagar Nigam.

Ghaziabad Nagar Nigam in its report had said that there is now connectivity of wash waters and waste from dairies at three vulnerable points - Prahladgarhi crossing, opposite Vandana Farm and opposite Balaji Earth Movers. 158 houses which were unconnected to sewerage system have now been connected and hence no sewage is now being discharged into the drain.

Earlier Ghaziabad Nagar Nigam improvised the drainage system by constructing new drains to avoid the problem of inundation and overflow of wastewater in Sector 15 and 17. During inspection made on March 3, 2023, the inspection team observed that the sewage flowing into the storm water drain (from node no 16 A to node no 12) was diverted to existing sewerage system at 3 points  - Prahladgarhi crossing, opposite Vandana Farm and opposite Balaji Earth Movers.

No flow was observed during this inspection in the storm water drain from node no 12 towards node no 4 - however wastewater was flowing in the storm water drainage system near Ganga complex, sector 16.

In order to ascertain the quality of wastewater, sampling was carried out at 3 locations on the storm water drain. "Observed water quality of drains in terms of BOD and COD revealed that drains are carrying sewage/sullage," the report said. The water quality at the terminal point (drain at Vasundhara Sector 19) also showed that there is no change or improvement in the water quality of storm water drain as compared to the earlier sampling conducted on November 3, 2022.

The team observed that the waste from dairies was still being discharged into the storm water drain. It was also observed that residential and commercial activities discharges wastewater into storm water drain.

Further, the team observed the following activities in and around Prahladgarhi village:

1. Discharge of wastewater into the storm water drain through illegal settlements and hutments

2. Encroachment along the Madan Mohan Marg road and drains

3. Wastewater discharges into the storm water drain from service stations

The wastewater flowing in the existing storm water drains finally merges with Sahibabad drain. Sahibabad drain is intercepted before entering Delhi and diverted to 74 MLD STP at Indirapuram for treatment and disposal. Based on the inspection /verification made, it can be concluded that the Ghaziabad Nagar Nigam has made the partial compliance. Sewage flowing into the storm water drain diverted at 3 points - Prahladgarhi crossing, opposite Vandana Farm and opposite Balaji Earth Movers. However, storm water drain still carries domestic wastewater / trade effluents generated from residential and commercial activities (illegal hutments, diaries, wastewater discharges from service stations) in and around Prahladgarhi village at Sector 16. The analytical results also support the fact that the stormwater drain still carries wastewater.

In view of above, it is recommended that Ghaziabad Nagar Nigam shall take necessary action to remove such encroachments from the roads and drains, illegal settlements and discharges from dairy farms and ensure that stations do not  discharge wastewater into the storm water drain said the report.