Trade effluent: Water supply department opposes deep sea discharge plan in Ahmedabad

AHMEDABAD: During the hearing on a suo motu PIL that seeks to curb pollution in the Sabarmati, the Gujarat high court was on Friday told that the proposal for deep sea discharge of Ahmedabad's trade effluent has been opposed by the Narmada, water resources, water supply and Kalpsar department.
In his report to the HC, amicus curiae Hemang Shah said a meeting of all stakeholders took place to discuss the possibility of using the MEGA pipeline to carry the discharge from Ashima Ltd and other textile units, which have been closed after the HC's prohibited discharge of treated effluent into the sewer network.
The proposal for deep sea discharge was discussed at the meeting and it was pointed out that the water supply department objects to discharge of Ahmedabad's trade effluent into the Gulf of Khambhat, where it is planning the world's largest man-made fresh water reservoir, Kalpsar, from which it plants to provide water to Saurashtra and Central Gujarat.
The proposed project cost has also risen from Rs 1,700 crore estimated earlier to Rs 4,200 crore.
The amicus proposed to resolve the issue of treatment of trade effluent at the local level, because stopping release of treated industrial water into the Sabarmati will result in the river drying up downstream of the Vasna barrage. This will deprive farmers on the riverbanks of water, and they will end up drawing groundwater. This will cause further complications and result in environment degradation.
The HC ordered the meeting to find a solution after Ashima Ltd sought permission to get a connection to the MEGA pipeline to discharge its treated effluent.
The amicus also submitted that Ashima may not be granted permission for a connection to the MEGA pipeline, which takes the city's trade effluent to CETPs and then to the river. If Ashima is granted permission, other closed industrial units will demand the same relief. Their total discharge will be around 32.5 MLD. If this is allowed, it would amount to reversing earlier orders of the HC.
A further hearing has been posted for next month.