Effluent treatment plant on the card
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, May 30 2019:
Taking serious note of the extremely contaminated and polluted state of Nambul River and Naga rivulet, an effluent treatment plant would be set up at the confluence of the two.
A detailed project report prepared by the Department of Environment has been already approved.
Responsibility of running the plant would be shared among LDA, PHED, IFCD, PWD, MAHUD Department and Environment Department, informed a source.
It is said that LDA would take care of all the necessary machinery.
Contaminated and polluted effluents which are drained into the two rivers would be treated and converted into environment friendly water by the treatment plant.
Even if the treated water is not fit for drinking and cooking, it would be quite safe for other purposes.
Money, machinery and knowledge required for setting up the effluent treatment plant would be shared among different departments, said the source.
According to a report submitted by the Environment Department, no sewerage falls into Nambul River even though effluents fall into the river through storm water drains during rainy season.
On account of continuous disposal of waste materials, both solid and liquid including plastics, water of the two rivers which flow through the heart of Imphal city are highly polluted and offensively smelly.
People are reluctant to use water from the two rivers even for watering vegetables, said the source.
At present, over 120 tonnes of solid wastes are generated everyday within the areas covered by Imphal Municipal Corporation Ward No 27 .
It is estimated that this volume of solid wastes would rise to over 170 tonnes by 2035.But all the waste materials generated in Imphal Municipal areas are not collected by NGOs or waste management authorities.
What the NGOs and waste management authorities have been collecting is just 40-50 per cent of the total volume of waste materials.
Of the total volume of waste materials generated in the Imphal Municipal areas, household wastes constitute 79.65 per cent, construction wastes constitute 14 per cent, agricultural wastes 5 per cent and biomedical wastes 1 per cent.
Another source said that 60 per cent of the wastes generated at Imphal and surrounding areas can be converted into compost but the remaining 40 per cent are non-biodegradable.
IMC's new action plan envisages enlistment of all households within its jurisdiction for disposal of waste materials through NGOs or waste management authorities.
Currently, there are many households which are out of the waste collection and disposal system.
Plans are also afoot to set a second sewage treatment plant at Heirangoithong (downstream) and another one at Shamushang (upstream), the source added.