The Himachal Pradesh State Pollution Control Board (HPSPCB) has taken action against the District Industries Centre (DIC) in Mandi by issuing a show-cause notice. This follows an inspection that linked a sewage leak to the death of fish in the Ratti Khad, located in the Balh Valley of the district.
The notice was prompted by a complaint from Kapil Thakur, a local resident. He reported a heavy accumulation of slurry and large-scale fish deaths in the water body. A joint inspection was conducted on Thursday, involving officials from the Pollution Control Board, the fisheries department, the industries department, panchayat representatives, and local residents. The inspection revealed that dead fish had been floating in the rivulet for the past two to three days.
During the inspection, officials found that a sewage chamber connected to a septic tank in the industrial area was overflowing. Additionally, damaged connections were allowing untreated sewage to be discharged directly into the khad. The sewage was seen stagnating in the stream. Water samples were collected from both upstream and downstream locations for laboratory analysis to determine the extent of pollution.
The show-cause notice states that the discharge constitutes a gross violation of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, and the Environment Protection Act, 1986. The Pollution Control Board has directed the DIC to immediately stop the discharge and ensure proper treatment and disposal of sewage from the industrial area within three days. The notice warns that failure to comply could lead to penal action under environmental laws and the imposition of environmental compensation.
Earlier this week, residents had raised an alarm after spotting dead fish and slurry accumulation in the Ratti Khad. The incident highlights the ongoing environmental challenges in the region and the need for strict enforcement of pollution control measures.
