The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has taken significant steps to address the deteriorating condition of the Kelo River in Chhattisgarh.
The river has become an undeclared garbage dumping yard, with its 15 km stretch included in the 351 most polluted river stretches in the country.
Despite the construction of two sewage treatment plants (STPs) in Raigarh, drain water still flows directly into the river at four spots, and garbage is dumped from the riverbank to under the bridge.
The NGT directed the Collector of Raigarh to take remedial measures based on the recommendations of the Joint Committee of the State Pollution Control Board. The committee suggested several measures to improve the situation, including:
– Rectifying the check dam of the Tipakhol reservoir to prevent the mixing of reservoir water with sewage
– Diverting or controlling the flow of excessive water into the drain
– Reviewing the network of channels for receiving sewage in STPs
– Constructing permanent/RCC bunds on the Indranagar nala and Kevadabadi nala to stop sewage bypassing
– Increasing public awareness drives regarding waste littering, single-use plastic prohibition, and waste separation
– Using trash skimmers to collect floating matter in the river and bar racks to remove plastic waste
The Central Bench of Justice Sheo Kumar Singh and Dr A Senthil Vel accepted the report and directed the Collector Raigarh to take remedial measures according to rules, disposing of original application.