The Madhya Pradesh Pollution Control Board (MPPCB) has recommended expanding the industrial effluent pipeline network on Sanwer Road in Indore to address capacity constraints and damage that are causing leakage of contaminated discharge into Narwar Nallah. This move is part of intensified efforts to control pollution in the Kahn river ahead of the Simhastha festival.
Current Situation
Sanwer Road industrial area houses over 500 industrial units, of which 211 are classified as water-polluting industries. The total industrial wastewater generated in Indore city is estimated at around 1.7 million liters per day (MLD), requiring proper collection and treatment before disposal. The Indore Municipal Corporation had previously laid dedicated pipelines in sectors C, E, and F of the industrial area to transport industrial discharge to the common effluent treatment plant (CETP).
However, PCB officials noted that the existing network is facing capacity constraints and has suffered damage at some locations, leading to leakage of contaminated discharge into Narwar Nallah. “We have suggested connecting all industries through dedicated pipeline networks for effluent discharge so that untreated waste does not leak into natural drains. Pollution control ahead of Simhastha requires strengthening both industrial and city sewage systems,” said Satish Chouksey, regional officer of MP Pollution Control Board, Indore region.
Recommendations
The pollution board has recommended that the municipal corporation lay pipeline networks across all sectors of Sanwer Road industrial area where infrastructure is currently absent, as part of a larger strategy linked to Kahn river pollution control and Simhastha preparations.
Broader recommendations include connecting all households generating wastewater to sewer lines and closing all outfalls that open directly into drains. The board also emphasized ensuring that untreated sewage does not flow directly into rivers.
- Increasing the treatment capacity of existing sewage treatment plants and ensuring their regular operation.
- Creating interceptor drains to divert wastewater flowing through drains to sewage treatment plants before it enters natural water bodies.
Chouksey further stated that the board has recommended operating the Sanwer Road CETP under a public-private partnership model to improve efficiency, maintenance, and accountability. For peripheral areas adjoining the city, PCB has recommended laying public sewer lines and linking them with treatment facilities.
Importance
Officials stressed that strengthening industrial wastewater systems and plugging sewage leakages are critical to reducing the pollution load in the Kahn river ahead of Simhastha preparations. The comprehensive strategy aims to prevent untreated industrial and domestic waste from contaminating natural water bodies, thereby safeguarding public health and the environment.
