Panchkula is facing a severe environmental and public health emergency as untreated sewage is being directly discharged into the Ghaggar river. The alarming situation has been triggered by ongoing stormwater pipeline repair work in the Industrial Area, raising immediate fears of drinking water contamination for local residents.
Residents Fear Drinking Water Pipeline Contamination
According to distressed locals, sewage originating from Sectors 14 and 15 is being diverted into open drains that ultimately flow into the Ghaggar. The crisis is magnified by the fact that the compromised sewer line runs parallel to a main drinking water supply pipeline. This proximity creates a high risk of seepage through any existing leaks or damaged joints, potentially poisoning the potable water supply. The city has a tragic history of diarrhoea outbreaks linked directly to water contamination, making current fears far from hypothetical.
Mohit Gupta, founder of Solution Box, expressed outrage at the official negligence. "With sewerage and water supply lines running side by side, even a small leak can allow polluted water to enter the drinking supply. This is extremely dangerous. How can they allow sewage in the stormwater pipeline?" he questioned, slamming the authorities for their inaction.
Pollution Board Reports Confirm Severe Contamination
Scientific evidence from the Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB) confirms the worst fears. Laboratory tests of samples collected from drains near the Industrial Area and Singh Nallah choe reveal dangerously high levels of pollutants.
The analysis shows elevated readings of:
- Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD)
- Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD)
- Oil and grease
- Ammoniacal nitrogen
Most critically, the samples showed negligible dissolved oxygen, a clear and definitive indicator of untreated sewage discharge. The HSPCB's own monitoring reports from October and November acknowledge the discharge from the Sector 14/15 area, yet residents allege that no effective corrective action has been taken to stop the toxic flow.
Official Inaction and Blame Game
The Panchkula Metropolitan Development Authority (PMDA), which is executing the repair work, has pointed fingers at the Haryana Shahari Vikas Pradhikaran (HSVP). Rajbir Singh, SDO of PMDA, stated that the matter was formally escalated. "The sewerage infrastructure falls under HSVP. We wrote to them to immediately fix the issue and stop sewage discharge," he said.
However, this bureaucratic passing of responsibility offers little solace to citizens. Residents insist that, as mandated under environmental norms, temporary arrangements like sewage tankers or bypass pumping should have been organized before commencing the repairs to prevent such discharge. They have accused HSVP of blatantly ignoring environmental norms and endangering public health, highlighting that National Green Tribunal (NGT) guidelines strictly prohibit the discharge of untreated sewage into natural water bodies like the Ghaggar.
Despite the escalating crisis, HSVP's executive engineer NK Payal did not respond to calls for comment, further fueling public anger and anxiety. The community now waits in fear, hoping for swift action before a full-blown health disaster unfolds.
