By Chandravir Kumar:
FOLLOWING the successful
implementation of Water
Quality Monitoring Plants at
five locations along the
Narmada river, including
Shahganj, the Madhya Pradesh
Government has taken a revolutionary decision to initiate
regular and online monitoring
of the state’s major water bodies. The successful trial on the
Narmada provided accurate,
real-time data on critical parameters such as Dissolved Oxygen
(DO) and pH levels, paving the
way for a large-scale rollout of
this technology. Based on the
reports generated, the MP
Pollution Control Board (PCB)
will now monitor the quality of
rivers and lakes continuously
and without human intervention.
Bhopal’s Lakes First in Line:
The second phase of this monitoring initiative will begin in the
state capital, with the installation of plants at the Upper Lake
(Bada Talab) and Shahpura
Lake. These sophisticated sensor-based systems will maintain a 24-hour database of water
quality.
If the system detects a sud
den drop in quality standards
or any harmful changes, it will
trigger an immediate alert. In
response, PCB officials will con
duct on-site inspections with
out delay. If the investigation
reveals the discharge of untreat
ed sewage by municipal bodies
or toxic effluents from indus
tries, strict legal action will be
taken under the Environment
Protection Act. In cases of repeat
offences, the polluting units
may face permanent closure.
2028 deadline and enhanced
transparency: The State
Government has set a target to
restore the purity of all rivers
across the state by 2028. This
goal aligns with national commitments and is being directly
monitored by the National
Green Tribunal (NGT).
The installation of these
plants will bring unprecedent
ed transparency. Much like the
Air Quality Index (AQI), the general public will be able to assess
water quality directly.
This digital accountability will
prevent officials from manipulating reports or misleading the
NGT and the Government, ensuring a more responsible
management of water
resources.
Regional Officer of the MP
Pollution Control Board,Brajesh Sharma, stated: “The
primary objective of this online
monitoring system is to liber
ate our water bodies from the
grip of pollution while ensuring real-time accountability.
This initiative reflects our commitment to providing a clean
aquatic environment for the
citizens. Our clear goal is to
ensure that all major water
bodies become pollution-free
within the stipulated time
frame through this technical
surveillance.