Home / Environment / Polluted Water Threatens Rewari's Masani Barrage
Polluted Water Threatens Rewari's Masani Barrage
7 Jun
Summary
- Wastewater discharge into Masani Barrage raises pollution alarms.
- Sewage treatment plants in Rewari fail to meet disposal norms.
- Plans underway to clear polluted water and rejuvenate groundwater.
The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has ordered the Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB) to investigate escalating pollution concerns at the Masani Barrage in Rewari. This directive follows complaints regarding the continuous discharge of wastewater into the hydraulic reservoir, which is a crucial water management and flood control structure in the Sahibi river basin.
Recent water sampling at the barrage in February revealed biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) levels significantly exceeding the prescribed limit. Several sewage treatment plants (STPs) in the vicinity are reportedly not meeting adequate disposal standards, contributing to wastewater accumulation. Local residents have demanded regular independent testing of the water quality released into the barrage.
In response, the Public Health Engineering Department (PHED) has initiated upgrades to STPs, with some recent upgrades completed and others commissioned. Furthermore, the irrigation department is developing a plan to establish a tertiary treatment facility and reroute treated wastewater through the Sahibi river system. This extensive project includes laying an 18-km pipeline and creating ponds to aid groundwater rejuvenation, with the aim of gradually clearing the accumulated polluted water at the barrage.
