Breathe life back into dying water bodies! |
After years of inaction, the government has finally kick-started conservation measures to restore the glory of Chuntkul, the major outflow channel of Dal Lake and Doodh Ganga river.
Chuntkul and Doodh Ganga have been marred by inflow of drains by catchment areas in absence of Sewage Treatment Plants. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah recently laid foundation stones for construction of three major Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) along Doodh Ganga and Chuntikul, It’s a long awaited scientific measure to prevent pollution in Chuntkul and Doodh Ganga.
Being constructed at a cost of Rs 189 crore, these STPs are designed to substantially enhance wastewater treatment capacity and prevent untreated sewage from flowing into the vital water bodies.
Under the project plan, Doodh Ganga Phase-I comprises a 6 Million Litres per Day (MLD) capacity STP to be constructed at a cost of Rs 50.6 crore at Mochua Budgam. The Doodh Ganga Phase-II to be constructed at Aloochi Bagh will have a capacity of 14 MLD at an estimated cost of RS 67.72 crore. Besides, an 8 MLD capacity STP is proposed at Chuntkul at Gaw Kadal at a cost of Rs 70.90 crore. After completion, these three STPs will collectively treat 28 million litres of sewage per day, significantly reducing pollutant discharge into Doodh Ganga and subsequently into river Jhelum. The establishment of these modern sewage treatment facilities is aimed to improve water quality, safeguard aquatic biodiversity, strengthen public health standards and ensure compliance with environmental regulations under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act.
Due to unabated flow of drains, flora and fauna in........