Joint committee report regarding permission granted to an STP for discharging treated sewage into Thol lake, Kalol, Gandhinagar, Gujarat, 01/06/2022
Action taken report in the National Green Tribunal (NGT) order, March 29, 2022 (O.A. 228/2022) regarding permission granted to an STP for discharging treated sewage into lake Thol.
Proceedings in the matter have been initiated on the basis of a media report to the effect that a sewage treatment plant (STP) of 33.1 MLD is proposed to be set up in Kalol town of Gandhinagar district in Gujarat. The STP has been permitted to discharge treated waste water into a lake which is a protected wetland and also declared a Ramsar site of international importance. The lake is a fresh water lake and if waste water is discharged therein, the ecosystem of lake will suffer.
The report informed the NGT that, presently sewage generated from Kalol town of Gandhinagar district is treated in oxidation ponds, a conventional treatment scheme for treatment / disposal of the sewage. Kalol Nagarpalika has proposed Sewage Treatment Plant of 33.1 MLD capacity for treatment of sewage generated from Kalol town and Ahmedabad Urban Development Authority (AUDA) area near existing oxidation pond of Kalol Nagarpalika.
Principal Chief Conservator of Forest, Wild life has issued letter, September 4, 2021 to Vice President (Project) – Gujarat Urban Development Company Limited (GUDC) regarding approval for disposal of treated wastewater from the Sewage Treatment Plant of Kalol Nagarpalika into Thol Lake through Saij – Hajipur Natural drain.
The latest development to the case is that the Gujarat Pollution Control Board, April 21, 2022 has issued direction to the Kalol Nagarpalika to ensure that sewage is not discharged to Thol Sanctuary and surrounding eco sensitive areas in any case.
The Joint Committee in its report has recommended that options of providing dedicated irrigation canals bypassing Thol Lake and without affecting whole bird sanctuary, Eco-sensitive Zone of Thol Lake and reuse of treated sewage in the nearby industries should be explored. The options explored by the Sub-Committee for utilization of treated sewage may be referred by Kalol Nagarpalika.