Lok Sabha Question No. 8 (STARRED), answered on 2025-12-01
Subject: Environmental Degradation and Public Health Concerns
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Shri Manish Tewari

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 8

TO BE ANSWERED ON 01.12.2025

## Environmental Degradation and Public Health Concerns

## *8. SHRI MANISH TEWARI:

Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether sewage continues to overflow into N-Choe stream in Chandigarh causing severe environmental degradation and public health concerns;
- (b) whether the National Green Tribunal (NGT) or Chandigarh Pollution Control Committee (CPCC)  has  issued  any  directions  to  the  Chandigarh  Municipal  Corporation  regarding persistent    pollution and high coliform levels in Chandigarh's seasonal rivulets including N-choe;
- (c) whether  the  civic  authorities  have  implemented  any  long-term  sewage  treatment  and drainage management plan to prevent recurring contamination;
- (d) whether any proposal has been made to rejuvenate or restore the natural watercourse of N-Choe; and
- (e) whether accountability has been fixed for repeated environmental violations leading to untreated sewage discharge into natural streams?

## ANSWER

MINISTER FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI BHUPENDER YADAV)

- (a) to (e): A statement is laid on the table of the House.

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## STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARAS  (a)  TO  (e)  OF  THE  LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 8 DUE FOR REPLY ON 01.12.2025 REGARDING 'ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION AND PUBLIC HEALTH CONCERNS' BY SHRI MANISH TEWARI, HON'BLE MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT

(a)  to  (e): N-Choe  originates from Sector  2 (near  Punjab  Secretariat) in  Chandigarh  and passes through various sectors and exits from Sector 53 (Garden of Spring boundary) after traversing about 12.5 km in Chandigarh and enters into District Mohali in Punjab and finally confluences with River Ghaggar in Rajpura, Patiala District, Punjab.

Sewage in Chandigarh is managed by the Municipal Corporation Chandigarh (MCC).

Original  Application  No.797  of  2023  was  registered suo-moto by  Hon'ble  National  Green Tribunal (NGT) related to pollution in N-Choe in Chandigarh. Based on the directions dated 18.01.2024 of Hon'ble NGT in the matter, Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) conducted inspection of N-Choe drain on 29 th  and 31 st  January 2024, and observed that in Chandigarh Sector 36 end point sewage pipe line crossing the drain, which was broken earlier and sewage was flowing in N-Choe drain, has been repaired. Small heap of solid and C&D waste was disposed on the bank of the drain at Sector 36 Hibiscus garden (Near Central Forensic Science laboratory).  The inspection report of CPCB recommended that:

- (i) The Municipal Corporation Chandigarh (MCC) shall ensure that all leakage/overflow of fresh water which leads to N-Choe must be tapped / plugged.
- (ii) The MCC shall carry out survey and identify the spot area of solid waste thrown and 'Net Jalli' be fitted along the road side of the N-Choe drain in order to prevent dumping of the solid waste into the drain.

The Hon'ble NGT disposed the said Original Application No.797 of 2023 on 17/5/2024 and directed following with regard to N-Choe in Chandigarh:

' We are of the view that so far as Chandigarh stretch of N-Choe is concerned, a regular and continuous monitoring is required by Municipal Corporation, Chandigarh to ensure that no sewage flows in N-Choe .'

Chandigarh Pollution Control Committee (CPCC) has informed that during last one year, at times some discharge of waste water was reported in N-Choe. CPCC had directed the MCC to take corrective measures to ensure that there is no disposal of waste in the N-Choe.

CPCC also directed the Engineering Department, Chandigarh Administration, to provide iron net (iron Jallies) on the culverts where the N-Choe is in close proximity to the roads, so that people may not be able to dispose of the solid waste from these points.

CPCC has further informed that during the last 3 years, specific proposal for rejuvenation or restoration of the N-Choe has not been made.

CPCC informed that Chandigarh is connected with 08 terminal STPs with installed capacity of 253.5 MLD and the present wastewater generation is around 232 MLD. Out of the installed capacity,  230  MLD  is  being  used.  Out  of  08  STPs,  Online  Continuous  Effluent  Quality Monitoring System (OCEMS) of 02 STPs are connected to the CPCB server, whereas OCEMS of 06 STPs are not transmitting data to CPCB. The CPCC has issued directions under section

33(A) of the Water (Prevention and Control  of Pollution)  Act,  1974 to the  Commissioner, MCC, Chandigarh, on 30.10.2025 for ensuring the OCEMS connectivity with CPCB.

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