CHANDIGARH: Inspection undertaken by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has found 86% of the sewage treatment plants (STPs) in catchment of the Satluj to be non-compliant with the laid down norms, pointing to the lax attitude of the Punjab government towards discharge of pollutants in rivers.
With a large number of towns discharging their wastewater into the Satluj, rising levels of toxicity in the river waters has become a major cause of concern as it poses a great health hazard. The total catchment area of the river is about 20,303 square kilometres. The industrial town of Ludhiana which falls within the catchment area of the Satluj contributes significantly to the pollution of the river.
