BIJNOR: To curb pollution in the Ganga, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has ordered that sugar mill owners should stop dumping waste into the river or its tributaries. Just before the commencement of the crushing season, the CPCB has passed instructions to the State Pollution Control Board, Lucknow, to issue notices to 119 owners of sugar mills situated along the Ganga in the state. Of these, nine mills are located in Bijnor district. The mill owners have also been directed to use water for irrigation instead of dumping waste it into the river. The state ground water department's data of last year shows that groundwater levels in 820 development blocks were 'diminishing'. Of these 820 blocks, 111 are 'over-exploited', 68 'critical' and 82 in 'semi-critical' state. The state government has also directed the DMs of 75 districts to take action on the groundwater crisis. The CPCB decision is being seen as one taken in the backdrop of this report. Giving information, regional PCB officer Ashok Tiwari said, "There are 119 sugar mills in the state and they discharge waste water during the crushing season. The CPCB order directs sugar mills to utilize waste water for irrigation instead of disposing it off in the river. Mills have also been asked to install cooling towers. The water discharged by mills is warm. They have been asked to use cooling towers to cool the water. These towers also serve as waste water treatment units." He further added, "We will conduct online monitoring of these sugar mills. Web cameras will be installed at these units so that we can closely monitor their work." The crushing season lasts from November to April, during which water is continuously disposed of into the rivers. Stating that water discharged from sugar mills was not harmful for crops, Bijnor district cane officer OP Singh added, "It's not harmful but it has to be treated properly. This water contains zinc, copper, sulphur, iron, nitrogen and phosphorous. These elements do not harm the ground but can pollute the river." Regional PCB officer Tiwari added, "The DM issued instructions to all officials concerned after the order was released. The CPCB sent this order to the state government on September 26 and earlier this week, the government issued circulars to all DMs concerned." He said a team comprising the SDM, tehsildar and members of the state Pollution Control Board had been set up to conduct checks on sugar mills. "These teams will conduct checks on sugar mills before crushing begins," he added. Meanwhile, sources told TOI that mill owners seemed worried about the new orders as any further delay in crushing could cause them huge losses.