Kullu: The Himachal Pradesh govt has admitted before the National Green Tribunal (NGT) that untreated wastewater from the state was flowing into neighbouring Haryana through Jattanwalan Nallah near the industrial area of Kala Amb in Sirmaur district.In an affidavit submitted to the tribunal on behalf of the state chief secretary, Sirmaur deputy commissioner (DC) Priyanka Verma stated that around 11.62 million litres daily (MLD) of wastewater was flowing through the nallah into Haryana. The affidavit states that the Jattanwalan Nallah is a drainage channel that carries mixed wastewater, predominantly comprising domestic sewage and discharge from commercial and industrial establishments, and that approximately 500 metres of the drain falls within the jurisdiction of Himachal Pradesh. The affidavit further admits that gaps in sewer connectivity and incomplete interception arrangements were allowing untreated wastewater to enter the drain network that further pollutes the Markanda river after merging with it. The DC also submitted an action plan for treating the effluents that enter Jattanwalan Nallah, stating that the state govt's focus was on interception, diversion and treatment of wastewater before it entered the nallah. The HP govt has proposed diverting intercepted sewage to the existing sewage treatment plant (STP) at Kala Amb, which has a treatment capacity of 1.7 MLD. The affidavit states that around 85% sewer connectivity in the area has already been completed and the remaining connections are under progress. Under the plan, the Jal Shakti department has been tasked with completing the remaining sewer connections, plugging visible discharge outlets, diverting wastewater into the sewer network and ensuring full operationalisation of the STP, states the affidavit. The action plan further provides for identification and mapping of all discharge points along the drain, installation of screens and trash traps to stop solid waste from entering the Nallah, and regular desilting and cleaning operations. The local authorities have been directed to remove accumulated garbage from the drain banks, install waste collection centres and prevent illegal dumping through fencing, signage and awareness drives, states the affidavit. On the industrial front, the DC informed the tribunal that M/s Ruchira Papers Mills was the only major highly polluting industry connected to the drain system. According to the affidavit, the unit has an 11 MLD effluent treatment plant (ETP)-cum-STP, which recycles a substantial portion of wastewater and discharges treated effluent after complying with prescribed norms. The Himachal Pradesh State Pollution Control Board (HPSPCB) has been directed to carry out continuous inspections, verify ETP functioning and take action against any non-compliant units. The DC's reply came after the NGT in March ordered the Himachal Pradesh govt to stop the outflow of effluents from Kala Amb industrial area into the neighbouring districts of Haryana. The NGT also sought a detailed action plan from Himachal Pradesh on the treatment of wastewater entering downstream areas after taking note of a report submitted by Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB) on pollution in the Markanda river. According to the HSPCB report, the main cause of pollution in the Markanda river, which is a tributary of the Ghaggar and originates in the Shivalik hills on the border of Himachal and Haryana, is Jattanwalla Nallah, a rivulet that flows from Rampur Jattan village in Kala Amb area of Sirmaur.The report stated that this Jattanwalla Nallah carried domestic and industrial effluents generated by houses and industries located in Kala Amb and significantly increased the biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) level, a measurement of water quality, of Markanda river after merging with it. It may be mentioned that a letter petition was filed in 2022 by Dharamvir, a resident of Naraingarh in Ambala district of Haryana, stating that industrial units located in Kala Amb in Sirmaur district had been discharging wastewater into the Markanda. The petition stated that the Markanda, which flows for around 24 km in Himachal, continues its stretch for another 125 km in Haryana, was regarded as a holy river and the industrial units of Kala Amb were not only polluting it, but also causing serious diseases among the villagers and cattle of the area downstream.