Untreated sewage water from over 50 residential societies in Raj Nagar Extension used to be dumped in the open due to the GDA's defunct sewage treatment plant in the area. Not any longer.
Societies in Raj Nagar Extension may get some respite from sewage trouble, as Ghaziabad Development Authority (GDA) is set to activate its sewage treatment plant in the area. Speaking to City Spidey, GDA officials said the plant would start operations from tomorrow.
Untreated sewage water from over 50 residential societies in Raj Nagar Extension, Ghaziabad, used to be dumped in the open due to the GDA's defunct sewage treatment plant in the area.
According to the residents, sewage water from their societies would be collected in pits in the society compound before being collected by hired tankers. Eventually, the water would be discarded in the nearby open fields or in under-construction drains.
Construction of the GDA's 56 MLD sewage treatment plant was complete but had been languishing due to a pending litigation in the Supreme Court, while residents paid their hard-earned money to rid their society of dirty water.
However, the apex court has now cleared the case and given a go-ahead to GDA for the STP.
Residents of the area had been waiting for this development for a long time. While many of the societies are still managed by the builder and the cost of getting rid of the sewage is borne by the builder, indirectly residents are made to pay.
Concerns have been raised regarding the fast-growing population in the area and the unavailability of an effective sewage disposal system. The makeshift solution of dumping untreated sewage in the open could not have continued longer, given the environmental and health risks.
However, according to sources, work for laying sewage pipelines of about 50 m between the STP and the residential area of Raj Nagar Extension was held up due to objections by farmers who owned the land.
Discussing the issue with City Spidey, SS Verma, chief engineer of GDA, said that the plant had already undergone trial and everything was working fine. "The plant will be made operational from tomorrow, and will cater to the residential areas of Raj Nagar Extension," he confirmed.
