JMC, JSCL unveil strategies to safeguard Tawi River amidst environmental concerns

Reports highlight pollution control initiatives, regulatory compliance, and persistent challenges in response to NGT inquiry

SRINAGAR: In a decisive move to address environmental concerns surrounding the Tawi River, the Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) and Jammu Smart City Limited (JSCL) have submitted detailed reports outlining their strategies for pollution mitigation and river protection.
These reports come in response to the National Green Tribunal (NGT), which has raised alarms over rising pollution levels and illegal encroachments affecting the river's health. Highlighting proactive measures such as the construction of interceptor drains, enhanced sewage management, and strict adherence to environmental regulations, the reports also acknowledge ongoing challenges that threaten the sustainability of the Tawi River.
These reports address critical issues of environmental degradation, rising pollution, and project delays that have jeopardized the health of the Tawi River.
The JMC's report, submitted on September 14, 2024, emphasizes several key initiatives aimed at combating pollution. The Commissioner highlighted ongoing efforts to clean the nallahs (drains) that feed into the Tawi River.
These nallahs have been identified as significant contributors to the river's contamination, making it imperative to connect them to the Sewerage Treatment Plant (STP) at Bhagwati Nagar. This connection is crucial to ensuring that untreated sewage does not flow directly into the river, thereby protecting its ecosystem.
A major component of the JMC's strategy involves the construction of interceptor drains designed to channel sewage-laden effluents directly to the STPs.
By implementing this infrastructure, the JMC aims to mitigate pollution levels in the Tawi River, promoting a healthier aquatic environment. Despite these proactive measures, the report acknowledges the challenges posed by illegal encroachments along the riverbanks and unregulated sand mining activities. These ongoing issues threaten the river’s sustainability, underscoring the need for enhanced coordination among various government departments.
In parallel, the CEO of Jammu Smart City Ltd. submitted a report outlining additional measures being undertaken. The report confirms that the Tawi River Front project does not require an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) as it primarily consists of diaphragm wall panels for riverbank protection and open promenades. This clarification aims to demonstrate compliance with environmental regulations while ensuring the project’s alignment with sustainability goals.
The report also details that the necessary consents for establishing and operating batching and crushing plants associated with the Tawi River Front Project have been secured from the Jammu and Kashmir Pollution Control Committee.
This compliance with the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act and the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act emphasizes the commitment to maintaining environmental standards throughout the project’s execution.
Furthermore, the report underscores the success of efforts to manage solid and liquid waste pollution. JSCL has effectively prevented waste generated from various nallahs from flowing directly into the Tawi River by constructing interceptor drains that direct sewage straight to the STPs.
Additionally, the J&K PCC has been diligently monitoring the water quality of the Tawi River. The latest analysis revealed that parameters such as Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) and Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) are within permissible limits, indicating that the measures taken thus far are having a positive impact.