- High Level meeting addresses leakage concern in Agling STP
Yash Khajuria
Leh, Sept 10: Sanjeev Khirwar, Principal Secretary of the Housing & Urban Development Department (HUDD), UT Ladakh on Tuesday chaired a high-level meeting to address the ongoing operational challenges faced by the Agling Sewage Treatment Plant (STP), which has been struggling with its reduced capacity. The meeting sought to tackle pressing issues surrounding waste management and water reuse in the region.
The meeting saw the participation of several senior officials, including Santosh Sukadeve, IAS, Deputy Commissioner/CEO of LAHDC, Leh; Dhawan Kumar Rawat, IFS, Regional Director of LPCC, Ladakh; Moses Kunzang, JKAS, Director of Urban Local Bodies, UT Ladakh; and Maqbool Hussian, Chief Engineer of PHE/I&FC, Ladakh. The key topic of discussion was the Agling STP’s reduced capacity—from the initially planned 6 Million Liters per Day (MLD) to its current 3 MLD. This reduction, which occurred despite the STP’s completion under the UIDSSMT scheme in 2021-22, has led to several operational challenges.
A Detailed Project Report (DPR) aimed at augmenting the STP’s capacity back to 6 MLD, with an estimated cost of Rs. 19.98 crore, was submitted in May 2024. However, progress on this project has been delayed due to the need for an additional STP in Leh town. In response, Khirwar emphasized the urgency of acquiring land from the army for a new STP at Spituk, stressing the importance of securing a land availability certificate from the revenue department to advance the DPR’s submission to IIT for further review.
Operational issues were also a focal point of the meeting. The officials discussed leakages in areas such as Juma Bagh, Changspa, and Old Road, exacerbated by unauthorized connections and seepage from marshy lands. To address these problems, Khirwar directed the installation of stormwater drainage along key roadsides to mitigate surface water seepage.
Another significant concern was the inefficient reuse of treated water by hotels operating their own STPs. To remedy this, the Municipal Committee Leh (MC Leh) and LPCC have been tasked with conducting inspections of hotels to verify treated water inflow and outflow, review logbooks, and issue notices for non-compliance. A comprehensive report is expected to be submitted to HUDD within a week. Additionally, MC Leh will engage with the All Ladakh Hotels & Guest House Association (ALGHA) to discuss the adoption of treated STP water reuse practices.
In an effort to ensure transparency and accountability, the discharge from the STP Agling will now be monitored at various manholes, with photographic and videographic records to be forwarded to HUDD. The Igoo-Phey Division has also been directed to provide HUDD with the STP’s operational flow chart and detailed specifications.
Further directives included exploring methods to reduce black water generation within the town, promoting the use of treated STP water for construction and car wash activities through an upcoming advertisement, and assessing the legal feasibility of discharging treated STP water into storm-water drains. The development of recharge pits for treated STP water at hotels was also suggested.
