Assessing the role of industrial sector contributing to water pollution problem of river Yamuna in Sonepat district, Haryana
Student name: Ms Manisha Dahiya
Guide: Dr Devesh Sharma
Year of completion: 2009
Host Organisation: Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB)
Supervisor (Host Organisation): Mr B.S. Chahal
Abstract: Water is one of the most valuable and essential resources that humans need to sustain their livelihood
with. Surface water of the country is vulnerable to pollution from untreated industrial effluents and
municipal wastes. Yamuna River covers an extensive area of 345,843 km
2
from Yamunotri glacier
through six states. Pollutants contained in domestic, industrial and agricultural waste contribute to
water pollution in River Yamuna. Yamuna Action Plan for replenishment of its water quality mainly
stresses its focus on domestic sewage and sanitation issues whereas the industrial sector contribution
cannot be ignored as along with pollution load industrial trade effluents also contribute toxicity to the
river systems if discharged untreated. This study mainly focuses on contribution of industrial sector of
Sonepat district, Haryana in contributing to pollution load of River Yamuna. Industrial units
discharged their untreated or partially treated effluents into nearby drain or into STP through sewers.
The highly polluted wastewater in the drain further meets River Yamuna in Delhi via out falling into
Najafgarh drain. Small scale industrial sector of this town is generating more water pollution as
compared to large and medium scale industries as in most of the units either Effluent Treatment Plants
(ETPs) were not installed (70% of the units were without ETPs) or were working under their
efficiencies (5%) . Thus enhancing productivity and minimizing waste in industrial units through
efficiency improvement programs need to be achieved for substantial reduction in wastewater
generation thereby directly reducing the pollution load. One such solution can be installation of
Common Effluent Treatment Plants (CETPs) which can treat domestic as well as trade effluents of
these clustered units at the same site reducing the pollution load and thus resulting in reduction in
pollution load of River Yamuna to a certain degree.
Keywords: River pollution, Yamuna Action Plan, Effluent Treatment Plants, CETPs, small scale units
