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Gurugram Drains Polluted: Crackdown on Illegal Taps Intensifies
5 Feb
Summary
- Civic bodies are intensifying actions against unauthorized sewer connections.
- Illegal connections are significantly polluting stormwater drains.
- Authorities aim to reduce high BOD levels in drains to meet pollution standards.
Civic authorities in Gurugram have escalated enforcement measures to halt unauthorized connections to master drain legs I, II, and III. This coordinated effort involves teams from the Municipal Corporation of Gurugram (MCG), Haryana Shehri Vikas Pradhikaran (HSVP), and Gurugram Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA).
Inspections are targeting illegal sewer connections that divert wastewater into the underground stormwater drain network, leading to severe pollution. Recently, numerous tapping locations were identified in legs II and III, with additional points found in leg I. These unauthorized connections are believed to be a primary cause of the high biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) levels, currently between 80mg/L and 110mg/L, which far surpass the Haryana State Pollution Control Board's (HSPCB) benchmark of below 10 mg/L.
In response, authorities are intensifying their efforts to unplug existing illegal connections and prevent new ones. Similar to measures taken before the monsoon last year, vigilance teams are closely monitoring the drains. Officials also confirmed that tanker operators illegally dumping sewer waste into open spaces and drains will face strict action, including FIRs, in collaboration with local police. An action plan has been developed to tap substantial volumes of wastewater from the drains, spanning over 50 kilometers of the underground network.
