A high-powered meeting in Delhi, chaired by Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari, has finally charted a concrete path to resolve the severe waterlogging and polluted water drainage crisis plaguing the Bhiwadi-Dharuhera region on the Rajasthan-Haryana border. The discussions have rekindled hopes for the reopening of National Highway-919, which has been shut down for the past two and a half years due to the impasse.
The Core Problem: A Highway Blocked for 2.5 Years
The crisis stems from the Haryana government's action to prevent polluted water from Rajasthan's Bhiwadi area from flowing into its territory. On July 23, 2023, authorities constructed an earthen ramp on NH-919, effectively blocking the passage. This led to a complete closure of the crucial highway, causing massive traffic jams and allowing contaminated water to accumulate on the road, creating a persistent environmental and infrastructural nightmare for commuters and industries alike.
High-Level Deliberations and Key Decisions
The pivotal meeting saw the participation of Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma, Union Environment Minister Bhupendra Yadav, Union Minister Rao Inderjit Singh, Haryana's Environment Minister Rao Narbir Singh, and Rajasthan's Water Resources Minister Suresh Rawat. After extensive talks on managing domestic sewage and rainwater, a multi-pronged solution was finalized.
A major breakthrough is the plan to construct a dedicated, approximately six-kilometre-long drain as a permanent fix for the waterlogging. Gadkari directed officials to conduct a comprehensive study for this project, estimated to cost around Rs 150 crore. The funding will be shared, with the Rajasthan and Haryana governments contributing Rs 25 crore each, and the remaining amount borne by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI). During the meeting, Rajasthan CM Bhajan Lal Sharma immediately agreed to the state's share of Rs 25 crore.
Wastewater Treatment and Reuse Strategy
The solution also focuses on treating wastewater at source. It was decided that Bhiwadi's domestic wastewater will be treated through a new Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) with a 34 MLD capacity, slated to be operational by March 2026. For industrial effluent, a Common Effluent Treatment Plant (CETP) with 6 MLD capacity, recently upgraded to Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) standards, will be utilized.
The treated water from the STP will not go to waste. A pipeline will transport it to the Sarai Khurd dam, where it can be reused by local farmers for irrigation and by industries, promoting water conservation.
To address cross-border concerns, it was firmly decided that only treated water meeting clean standards will be discharged into the Masani Barrage. The water quality at this point will be jointly monitored by the Rajasthan and Haryana governments to ensure compliance and build trust.
A Historic Step Towards Resolution
Expressing optimism, Alwar MP Bhupendra Yadav thanked Ministers Gadkari and Sharma, stating that a historic and concrete decision had been taken. This long-awaited move is expected to provide immense relief to the general public, daily travellers, and the vital industrial sector in the Bhiwadi-Dharuhera belt, ending a problem that has festered for years.
