The Times of India 16.03.2013
Outdated sewerage system giving rise to pollution, diseases in Ranchi
RANCHI: The city lacks a proper sewerage system, which has led to an increase in pollution level in the city. The
Jharkhand State Pollution Control Board (JSPCB) said the
Ranchi Municipal Corporation (RMC) has allotted about 125 acres of land in Jhiri, 20 km from Ranchi for waste disposal.
A2Z waste management company is authorized to carry out the work. Nearly 500 tonnes of domestic waste is dumped there everyday.
Sources in the JSPCB also said the civic body is not meeting the
criteria required for maintaining a sewerage system. They are violating
the terms and conditions after receiving the 'no objection certificate'.
Member secretary of JSPCB S K Sinha said domestic waste is dumped into
rivers for lack of a proper sewerage system. "Garbage thrown into the
rivers choke and pollute them," Sinha said.
Jhiri lacks the
basic requirement of effective waste disposal. An official from JPCB
said, "Collection, treatment and disposal are the main requirements of
domestic wastewater management system for any city. But Jhiri fails to
fulfill any of these criteria and thus pollutes the environment."
This apart, residents of Jhiri are also facing problems owing to land
turning infertile as a result of dumping of wastes. As a result of this,
underground water is contaminated and emits a foul smell.
Shivmangal, a local resident of Jhiri, said, "Pollution owing to dumping
of wastes is causing various kinds of illnesses among children."
Residents compelled to live in such filthy ambience have a lot to
complain about. Another local,
Ramesh Singh,
said, "These adverse conditions have put us in a dilemma. We are forced
to drink the contaminated water and are batlling several dreadful
diseases."
The RMC is yet to take stock of the situation. Asked
about the solution to the problems, chief executive officer of the
civic body, Deepankar Panda said, "Construction of a plant is on and it
will take two to three months to complete."
