ISSUES IN TACKLING LAKE POLLUTION BY Smt. J. SAWIAN Scientist ‘C’ MSPCB

SOURCES OF WATER POLLUTION: Pollution from Domestic waste Pollution from Sewage Pollution from Automobile Workshop Pollution from Hotels and Restaurant Pollution from Slaughter Houses

Pollution from Solid waste disposal site Pollution from Solid waste disposal site Dumping of Solid Wastes Dumping of Solid Wastes Dumping of Earth Construction Debris Dumping of Earth Construction Debris Encroachment Encroachment Deforestation in the Catchment Areas Deforestation in the Catchment Areas Agricultural activities Agricultural activities Sand and stone mining/quarrying Sand and stone mining/quarrying

MEASURES TO BE ADOPTED FOR TACKLING LAKE POLLUTION Sewage and Waste Water Treatment: Sewage and Waste Water Treatment:  Intercepts drains and tributaries at their point of confluence with the rivers.  Two main sewers on both banks of the river.

 Installation of more effective drainage system in the city of Shillong.  Conversion of dry latrine into septic tanks and stop direct discharge of sewage.  Relocating major automobile workshops to an identified place where common effluent treatment plan may be installed.

 Stop the direct discharge of sewage from the latrines.  Explore possibilities & establish decentralized sewage treatment system.

Solid Waste Management: Solid Waste Management:  Stop disposal of Biodegradable & non- biodegradable solid wastes in water bodies.  Encourage segregation of garbage at the household level itself. Biodegradable waste may be processed and utilized as compost. Non- biodegradable and recycle waste should be channeled though organised waste-pickers and inert and non recyclable be disposed at suitable land fill site.  House-to-house collection of garbage should be practiced either by the municipal agencies through their own efforts or through a contractual arrangement.

 Unorganized disposal of wastes generated by unlicensed trades of fruits, vegetables, fruit juice, fast-food joints etc., should be regulated through collection of wastes in adequately sized bins. Locations for such stalls should be identified and marked.  Provision for dumping of waste at remote places, far away from water bodies need to be adopted.  Collection of waste in ‘Open spots’ or ‘Open sites’ should be prohibited.

 Provision for dumping of waste at remote places, far away from water bodies need to be adopted.  Collection of waste in ‘Open spots’ or ‘Open sites’ should be prohibited.  Provide bins in commercial areas as well as official complexes. Market associations could be involved in the upkeep of their civic activities. Roping in the market associations will also lead to the participation of the local business community and also help in penalizing offenders in forms of levying fines.

 Public participation.  Women’s groups, NGO’s and Self Help Groups to be more involved.  Bio-medical wastes should not be allowed to mixed with the municipal solid wastes. All Bio-medical wastes needs to be disposed off in prescribed manner.

Slaughter House Waste: Slaughter House Waste:  Centralized slaughter house.  Improve hygiene in meat industry.  Ensure quality control.  Waste to be treated by composting.  Treatment by-products can benefit the slaughter house.

Public Participation: Public Participation:  Solid waste management to be tackled at grassroots level.  More powers to be given to the village headmen and his council to punish defaulters.  Government to use its machinery and man-power for intensive mass awareness campaign.  People’s attitude should change.

 Cleaning drive of rivers & tributaries with the help of public, local durbars, NGO’s as short term measures. MINING AND QUARRYING: MINING AND QUARRYING:  Mining and quarrying activities along and near the water bodies should be stopped.  Siting criteria for quarry/mining as per the Environmental issue should be followed.

FURTHER RECOMMENDATIONS: FURTHER RECOMMENDATIONS:  Enact strict laws against direct discharge of sewage from houses and against encroachments along river banks.  Enforce the laws.  Development of green belt around the water bodies to reduce the problem of erosion and siltation.

 Improvement of the quality of life of the catchment community.  Land use control.  Prohibition of residential and agricultural development in highly disaster prone areas.  Washing of vehicles along the water bodies should be stopped.

 Stop cleaning & washing of clothes in water bodies.  Construct separate electric crematoriums for human dead bodies & animal carcasses.  Develop a comprehensive “Lake Basin Management Plan” in consultation with all the stake holders.

THANK YOU