Will Bharalu Water Be Fit For Bathing? Action Plan Submitted To CPCB

GUWAHATI: Water is a scarce commodity in Guwahati – even for bathing, let alone for human intake. The situation, it seems, is not going to improve soon as all those currently implementing the four mega water supply projects in the metropolitan city are taking their own sweet time. However, of late, it has come within the realms of possibility for the use of the water in the Bharalu River at least for bathing purposes. If it happens, it will be fit for washing linen as well.

On completion of its survey of the Bharalu River, the River Rejuvenation Committee (RRC) formed by the Pollution Control Board, Assam (PCBA) has already submitted its report to the State Government and an action plan to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) to make the water of this river fit at least for bathing.

The PCBA conducted the survey in compliance with the instruction it had received from the National Green Tribunal (NGT). The NGT had instructed all pollution control boards for making the 351 polluted stretches of rivers of the country fit at least for bathing purposes.

The NGT had also asked all pollution control boards to prepare action plans. The 351 polluted river stretches of the country have been divided into five different categories – Category I, Category II, Category III, Category IV and Category V. The Bharalu river of Guwahati falls in Category I with all monitoring locations exceeding BOD concentration 6mg/L. The PCBA had constituted the RRC on December 24, 2018 following a directive from the NGT. The committee has representatives from GMC (Guwahati Municipal Corporation), PCBA and the Social Forestry.

Also Read: Target: Making Bharalu River At least Fit For Bathing