Contrary to this Dahiya claims that of the total effluents discharged in Panipat, around 90 percent is treated. Those who have not installed ETPS have to bribe pollution board officials, he adds. Most of the industrialists this reporter met complained that pollution board officials were extorting money from them. The owners have no fear of surprise raids. Those who have an ETP, operate it and those who don t, just shut down the factory for a day, he adds.
Most industrialists let the effluents flow into sewers without any treatment.
Sewage pipes provided by the government are only 10 cm in diameter, so they get chocked. Many industrialists pointed out that some HPCB officials are corrupt and the board s rules only encouraged malpractices. Also if the samples are tested by laboratories not approved by HPCB, then the results of such tests are rejected, he adds. On the other hand, HPCB officials claim that they monitor pollution closely. We do regular testing and monitoring.