Action Plan for Digboi River

Priority III

Environment & Forest Department

Government of Assam

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ACTION PLAN FOR DIGBOI RIVER-PRIORITY III

1. Basic information about the Stretch

The Digboi River is a small river which is a sub-tributary of the Burhidihing

River and criss-crosses the Dihing Reserve 30 Forest (West Block). The

river has its origin at upper Dihing Reserve Forest near Golf Course and

flows towards the Tipling river. The river after flowing through the Tipling

river, finally turns towards Buridihing and then confluence with the river. It

has its entrance point to the Digboi town at Ram Nagar Bridge, Digboi. The

catchment of the river extends to a number of villages, Lakhipathar Reserve

Forest, Oil collecting stations and paddy fields.

The river flows for about 32 km from here to its confluence point, Bamuni

Gaon, Ushapur and falls in the river Burhidihing, which is the largest

tributary of the Brahmaputra. It is a perennial river and carries water

throughout the year.

The bank of the river Digboi is composed of alluvial soil. The alluvial

deposits are characterized by its coarse nature, reddish colour and sandy

clay.

1 .1. Polluted river stretch/length

The length of the polluted stretch of Digboi River is 7.6 km with an

area of 11.7 sq.km. (Fig 1). The stretch identified as polluted is from

IOCL Oil town to Lakhipathar Reserve Forest

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Fig 1: Map showing the polluted river stretch of Digboi river

2. Background:

In compliance of the direction of Hon’ble National Green Tribunal,

Principal Bench, New Delhi in the matter of news published in ‘The

Hindu’ authored by Jacob Koshy, Tiltled ‘More river stretches are now

critically polluted CPCB’, Government of Assam constituted River

Rejuvenation Committee (RRC) vide memorandum673/2018 dated

19/12/2018 for effective abatement of pollution, rejuvenation, protection

and management of the identified polluted stretches, for bringing the

polluted river stretches to be fit at least for bathing purposes within six

months

3. Basis of Action Plan for Digboi polluted river stretch

The action plan for rejuvenation, protection and management of the

identified polluted river stretch of Assam has been prepared based on the

following

As per direction of Hon’ble National Green Tribunal, Principal

Bench, New Delhi in the matter of news published in ‘The Hindu’

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authored by Jacob Koshy, Titled ‘More river stretches are now

critically polluted CPCB’

Comprehensive report on Prevention and Control of Pollution in

River Hindon: An Action Plan for Rejuvenation’ [Submitted in

compliance to Hon’ble National Green Tribunal]

4. Components of Action Plan

(a) Industrial Pollution Control

Inventorisation of industries

Categories of industry and effluent quality

Treatment of effluents, compliance with standards and mode of

disposal of effluents

Regulatory regime.

(b) Identification, Channelization, Treatment and Utilization of

Treated Domestic Sewage

Identification of towns in the catchment of river

Town-wise Estimation of quantity of sewage generated and existing

sewage treatment capacities to arrive at the gap between the sewage

generation and treatment capacities;

Identification of towns for installing sewerage system and sewage

treatment plants.

Storm water drains now carrying sewage and sullage joining river and

interception and diversion of sewage to STPs,

Treatment and disposal of septage and controlling open defecation.

(c) River catchment/Basin Management-Controlled ground water

extraction and periodic quality assessment

Periodic assessment of groundwater resources and regulation of

ground water extraction by industries particularly in over exploited

and critical zones/blocks.

Ground water re-charging /rain water harvesting

Periodic ground water quality assessment and remedial actions in case

of contaminated groundwater tube wells/bore wells or hand pumps.

Assessment of the need for regulating use of ground water for

irrigation purposes.

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(d) Flood Plain Zone

Regulating activities in flood plain zone.

Management of Municipal, Plastic, Hazardous, Bio-medical and

Electrical and Electronic wastes.

Greenery development- Plantation plan.

(e) Ecological/Environmental Flow (E-Flow)

Issues relating to E-Flow

Irrigation practices

(d) Such other issues which may be found relevant for restoring

water quality to the prescribed standards.

5. Action Plan as per direction of Hon’ble NGT

The components to be discussed in the action plan for rejuvenation,

protection and management of identified polluted stretch of Digboi river are

as follows

5.1. Industrial Pollution Control

Classified industrial units in the form of Health care Units, Hotels, Tea

estates etc. are observed with infrastructural facilities (ETPs, STPs) in the

periphery of the polluted river stretch of Digboi river along with few small

scale industrial establishments which is presented at Table I

There are four (04) numbers of Red Category industrial units located near

the Digboi river. However, the Red Category units are presently adopting

Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) process. Moreover, it is also observed that

none of the small scale units discharge their effluent directly into the river

stretch as they have captive ETP for treatment of their effluent.

Further directions were issued by the PCBA to all the industrial units

which has failed to comply with the discharged norms. Moreover, the Board

has also issued direction to build their own set up in their premises which do

not have STP/ETP

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Table I: Industry details as per the following of Digboi polluted stretch

Sl.

No

Name of the Industry Category Total Water

Consumption (KLD)

Waste

Water

/waste

Generation

(KLD)

Without

consent/Dir

ections

issued

ETPs

CETPs OCEMS Gaps Proposed

CETP

Functional Non-

Functional

Ground

Water/

Surface

water

Supply

Water

1 Digboi refinery, IOCL,

AOD, Digboi, Tinsukia

14232 8790.8 Consent

Granted

Functional -

Nil Nil

Nil

Nil

2 AOD Hospital, Digboi,

Tinsukia 6 4 Consent

Applied

Functional - Nil

Total 14238 8794.8 - - Nil

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Following are the suggestions for control of industrial pollution control

The industry that will extract groundwater for manufacturing process

should not operate unless they possess valid permission for

groundwater extraction from Central Ground Water Authority.

No industries should discharge their effluent directly into drains

without treatment, rather they should reuse their treated

effluent/sewage.

Direction to be issued to the units which are not complying to the

effluent discharge norms as per Section 5 of the Environment

(Protection) Act, 1986, by PCBA for ensuring compliance to the

discharge norms.

6. Identification, Channelisation, Treatment and Utilization of Treated

Domestic Sewage

6.1. Major towns located on the bank

Digboi town and Digboi Oil Town are the major localities situated on the

bank of the Digboi river. The approximate total population of the Digboi

town and Digboi Oil Town is 34,462 as per Census 2011 with 7508

numbers of households. Further Digboi town has eight (08) numbers of

wards with major localities being Netaji Nagar, Ananda Para, Mission Para,

Jyoti Nagar etc. Moreover, two (02) numbers of villages namely Borbil

No.2 and Borbil No.3 are also situated along the polluted river stretch with

total population of approximately 7080 and 1571 numbers of households.

These villages are medium sized and settled in scattered plan.

6.2. Town wise estimation of quantity of sewage generated and existing

sewage treatment capacities

The major localities responsible for contribution of sewage in the Digboi

river are Digboi town and Digboi Oil town. The total sewage generated by

the identified four numbers of Localities are 4714.8KLD

6.3. Identification of towns for installing sewerage system and sewage

treatment plants.

As per the survey done one (01) STP has been proposed at Digboi town in

consultation with the District Administration

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Table II: Sewage generation and gaps in treatment

S.N Area Population

as per

2011

census

Water

Consumption

(KLD)

@135lpcd

Sewage

Generation

(KLD)

No. of

STPs

Proposed

Existing

Treatment

capacity

(KLD)

Total

Gaps

in

KLD

1 Digboi Town

Committee

21736.0 2934.4 2347.5

01 Nil

2347.5

2 Digboi Oil

town 12726 1718.0 1374.4 1374.4

3 Borbil No. 2 3903 527.7 422.2 422.2

4 Borbil No. 3 3177 428.9 343.1 343.1

Total 41542 4714.8 4714.8

Table III: Total gap in projected population and sewage generation till 2035

S.

N

Area Population

as per 2011

census

Water

Consumption

(KLD)

@135lpcd

Sewage

Generation

(KLD)

No. of

STPs

Proposed

Existing

Treatment

capacity

(KLD)

Total

Gaps

in

KLD

1 Digboi Town

Committee 26736 3609.4 2887.5

01 Nil

2887.5

2 Digboi Oil town 13726 1853.01 1482.4 1482.4

3 Borbil No. 2 4412 595.7 476.6 476.6

4 Borbil No. 3 3627 489.7 391.8 391.8

Total 48501 6547.81 5238.3 5238.3

At present the Digboi catchment area is over populated. There is no any land

availability for future human settlement and expansion within the periphery of

the catchment area.

6.4. Water Quality of the river stretch

There is one (01) sampling location of Digboi river at Tinsukia district

under NWMP

Table IV: Monitoring Location Details

Sampling Location Coordinates

Digboi river at Lakhipathar Reserve Forest 26°9'57.28" N

92°21'13.83" E

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The change in the water quality of Digboi river in terms of BOD value for

the period of January, 2016 - March, 2020 is presented below in Table V

Table V: BOD value in mg/l of Digboi river from the year January, 2016-March 2020

Year

BOD

Value

(mg/l)

Year

BOD

Value

(mg/l)

Year

BOD

Value

(mg/l)

Year

BOD

Value

(mg/l)

Year BOD

Value

(mg/l)

Jan-16 1.2 Jan-17 4.8 Jan-18 3.3 Jan-19 5.2 Jan-20 2.6

Feb-16 14.0 Feb-17 6.6 Feb-18 6.4 Feb-19 3.2 Feb-20 2.4

Mar-16 4.0 Mar-17 4.2 Mar-18 4.0 Mar-19 2.9 Mar-20 2.8

Apr-16 4.7 Apr-17 4.4 Apr-18 15.0 Apr-19 2.8

May-16 2.2 May-17 2.8 May-18 4.2 May-19 2.1

Jun-16 6.0 Jun-17 2.1 Jun-18 5.4 Jun-19 3.8

Jul-16 4.0 Jul-17 2.6 Jul-18 5.0 Jul-19 2.8

Aug-16 3.2 Aug-17 3.9 Aug-18 6.2 Aug-19 2.6

Sep-16 3.4 Sep-17 6.5 Sep-18 2.1 Sep-19 2.5

Oct-16 1.4 Oct-17 3.4 Oct-18 2.3 Oct-19 2.4

Nov-16 6.9 Nov-17 6.4 Nov-18 4.2 Nov-19 2.5

Dec-16 5.6 Dec-17 3.2 Dec-18 4.0 Dec-19 2.4

The detail analytical data of the Digboi river for the month of March

2020 are presented in Table VI

Table VI: Latest analysis report of Digboi river- March 2020

Parameter Value

D.O. (mg/L) 5.1

pH 7.5

Cond(µS/cm) 291

BOD(mg/L) 2.8

COD(mg/L) 12.5

NO3 -N (mg/L) 1.4

TSS (mg/L) 50

Turbidity (NTU) 06

p-Alkalinity (mg/L) Nil

m-Alkalinity (mg/L) 70

Hardness (mg/L) 82

Calcium as CaCO3(mg/L) 60

Magnesium as CaCO3 (mg/L) 22

Chloride as Cl- (mg/L) 10

Sulphate as SO4-2 (mg/L) 22.5

Phosphate as PO4 (mg/L) 0.14

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Parameter Value

TKN (mg/L) 0.90

NH4-N (mg/L) 0.27

Total Dissolved Solids (mg/L) 168

TFS (mg/L) 54

Fluoride (mg/l) 0.24

Boron (mg/l) 0.011

Na (mg/L) 15.1

K (mg/L) 4.0

Total Iron (mg/L) 0.21

Lead (mg/L) 0.005

Zinc (mg/L) 0.046

Copper (mg/L) 0.003

Total Chromium (mg/L) BDL

Nickel (mg/L) BDL

Cadmium (mg/L) BDL

Mercury (mg/L) BDL

Arsenic(mg/L) BDL

Total Coliform (MPN/100ml) 1500

Faecal Coliform (MPN/100ml) 720

The above data indicated that the BOD load has failed to meet the

standard criteria in most of the occasions. The BOD value which indicates

organic load generally increases due to the waste generated from the activity

of the residents in the form of domestic household waste through different

drains and channels. The river receives untreated sewage through two major

drains coming from the Digboi township. Hence this consistent exceedance

of pollution load may be due to the discharge of organic waste originating

from domestic household waste through the drains to the river as the town

does not have any treatment facility for the sewage.

6.5. Drains contributing to pollution

The river receives storm water along with municipal sewage by two

drains coming from Digboi Township at Borbil no.3 at a distance of 1 km

from Ram Nagar Bridge, Digboi. However, few drains of natural origin also

exist that aid in evacuating the sewages originating from households,

commercial establishments, institutes, industries etc.

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6.6. Characteristics of the major drains

The drains mainly carries industrial as well as residential wastes. Direct

dumping of residential and commercial garbage into the channel is making it

shallower and heavily silted as the drains of the town are also becoming a

regular garbage-dumping site. Moreover, these drains are not planned

properly to carry even the regular water.

Table VII: Analysis report of the major drains contributing to pollution in the Digboi river

Parameter Drain 1 (Borbil No. 3) Drain 2 (Borbil No.3)

D.O. (mg/L) Nil Nil

pH 6.8 7.1

Cond(µS/cm) 364 326

BOD(mg/L) 18.9 19.2

COD(mg/L) 49.6 51.2

NO3 -N (mg/L) 2.6 3.0

TSS (mg/L) 58 66

Turbidity (NTU) 08 08

p-Alkalinity (mg/L) Nil Nil

m-Alkalinity (mg/L) 128 142

Hardness (mg/L) 132 108

Calcium as CaCO3(mg/L) 88 76

Magnesium as CaCO3 (mg/L) 44 32

Chloride as Cl- (mg/L) 18 16

Sulphate as SO4-2 (mg/L) 32.4 28.9

Phosphate as PO4 (mg/L) 0.68 0.79

TKN (mg/L) 11.8 12.3

NH4-N (mg/L) 3.8 3.5

Total Dissolved Solids (mg/L) 234 208

TFS (mg/L) 58 52

Fluoride (mg/l) 0.46 0.42

Boron (mg/l) 0.028 0.031

Na (mg/L) 24.6 28.5

K (mg/L) 8.9 7.6

Total Iron (mg/L) 0.44 0.41

Lead (mg/L) 0.007 0.008

Zinc (mg/L) 0.057 0.052

Copper (mg/L) 0.004 0.003

Total Chromium (mg/L) BDL BDL

Nickel (mg/L) BDL BDL

Cadmium (mg/L) BDL BDL

Mercury (mg/L) BDL BDL

Arsenic(µg/L) 0.008 0.009

Total Coliform (MPN/100ml) 4800 4400

Faecal Coliform (MPN/100ml) 1100 2000

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6.7. Flow details of the major drains contributing to river pollution

Discharge has been measured and it is around m3/sec and m3/sec

respectively

Table VIII: Flow Details of the Major drains out falling in Digboi river

Major

Drains/Outfall of

the Digboi river

Type of liquid waste

Flow details of

the major

drains/outfalls

(m3/s)

Flow details of

the major

drains/outfalls

(MLD)

Major outfall at the

origin of Digboi

river consists of two

drains coming

from Digboi

Township at

Borbil no.3

Commercial &

Domestic

0.025 2.2

0.016 1.4

6.8. Sewage generation from the towns located on the banks of the

polluted river

The main contributor of pollution in the river is municipal sewage. There

are no treatment systems for the sewages which are dumped in open thereby

ultimately finding their ways to water bodies without treatment. Moreover,

Sewage treatment facility has not been set up yet in Assam.

6.9. Number of Sewage treatment plants present and treatment capacity,

and gaps

There is no any sewage treatment plant at present.

6.10. Number of STPs proposed and capacity

As per the survey done one (01) STP has been proposed at Digboi town

with a capacity of approximately 5.5 MLD in consultation with the District

Administration

6.11. Interception and diversion of drains /in situ treatment given

One (01) number of STP has been proposed along with interceptor

drains for in situ treatment before outfall.

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6.12. Drainage system/ sewerage network present/proposed

Some natural drainage of local origin are acting as the drainage system to

evacuate sewage originating from domestic households, commercial

establishments, institutes, industries etc.

There is no sewerage system at present. In this project one (01) number of

STP along with interceptor drains for collection of the sewage of the basin

has been proposed. All the sewage of the catchment area of the river shall be

collected by interceptor drains and shall be treated in the proposed STP

before outfall in to the river.

6.13. Treatment and Disposal of Septage and controlling Open Defecation

Some of the households in the towns are equipped with ordinary septic

tanks and the slum dwellers in the catchment areas of the river have kuccha

latrines. However, around 1968 toilets have been constructed in the Tinsukia

district under the initiative of Swachh Bharat Abhiyan to achieve open

defecation free area.

Moreover, OIL has rendered its full commitment to Hon’ble Prime

Minister’s flagship programme “Swachh Bharat Abhiyan” and in pursuance

to that they have undertaken the following activity

Constructed toilets in both Government boys and girls schools.

Constructed toilet at Digboi Unnayan Samity and Toilet facility at

OIL Township in 7 nos. of locations for public use

Undertaken a toilet utilization assessment survey of the already

constructed school toilets and project Anubhav for awareness

building among sanitation workers for making them more

responsive towards sanitation

Following remedial actions will be taken in consideration of treatment

and disposal of sewage

Every households should be recommended to have individual

drainage that should be connected to soak pits or stagnated pool.

The discharge should be trapped by strainers before draining off to

the river.

Roadside hotels/restaurants should not be allowed to dispose

untreated sewage and solid waste into the nearby drains or rivers.

These establishments should be properly regulated by the

concerned authority.

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Public awareness to control open defecation and understand the

sanitary hygiene.

Local administration should provide proper pucca toilets for the

individuals or atleast community toilets through the IHHL scheme

under Swachh Bharat Mission.

7. Controlled Ground water Extraction and quality Assessment

The annual dynamic ground water resources are estimated to be 159036

ham, while the net annual ground water draft is 16697 ham as reported by

CGWB. Though the stage of ground water development is only 12% percent,

the district is still under “safe” category

The details of estimated ground water resource in Tinsukia district is

presented below in Table IX

Table IX: Estimation of ground water resource in the Tinsukia district

Ground water

extraction details

Ground

water

Irrigation

practices

Ground

water

recharging

mechanism

Rain water

harvesting

Annual Replenishable

Ground Water

Resources

159036 ham Minor and

medium

irrigation

schemes such

as DTW and

STW

Recharging of

groundwater

are done by

creation of

Pond/lakes

under

government

schemes.

The roof top

rainwater

harvesting is

practiced. Net Ground Water

Availability

16697 ham

Stage of Ground Water

Development

12%

Future provision for

Domestic & Industrial

Use

4257 ham

Future Provision for

Irrigation Use

125230 ham

7.1. Status of Ground Water

The interpretation of the results of the analysis shows that ground water

of the district is fresh and suitable for both domestic and irrigation purposes

except higher contents of iron in some places, which requires treatment

before being used for drinking purposes.

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As per the data generated from PCBA, the ground water quality around

the catchment area of polluted stretch of the Digboi river is found to be

within the permissible limit and safe for domestic and irrigation purposes.

Table X: Latest analysis report of Ground water at Digboi – March 2020

Parameter Value

pH 7.1

Cond(µS/cm) 354

BOD(mg/L) 1.6

COD(mg/L) 4.6

NO3 -N (mg/L) 2.1

TSS (mg/L) 6

Turbidity (NTU) 2

p-Alkalinity (mg/L) Nil

m-Alkalinity (mg/L) 134

Hardness (mg/L) 84

Calcium as CaCO3(mg/L) 62

Magnesium as CaCO3 (mg/L) 22

Chloride as Cl- (mg/L) 32

Sulphate as SO4-2 (mg/L) 13.6

Phosphate as PO4 (mg/L) 0.06

Total Dissolved Solids (mg/L) 228

TFS (mg/L) 54

Fluoride (mg/l) 0.23

Boron (mg/l) 0.010

Na (mg/L) 58.9

K (mg/L) 29.6

NH4-N (mg/L) 0.18

TKN (mg/L) 0.42

Total Iron (mg/L) 0.34

Lead (mg/L) BDL

Zinc (mg/L) 0.044

Copper (mg/L) 0.003

Total Chromium (mg/L) BDL

Nickel (mg/L) BDL

Cadmium (mg/L) BDL

Mercury (mg/L) BDL

Arsenic(µg/L) BDL

Total Coliform (MPN/100ml) Nil

Faecal Coliform (MPN/100ml) Nil

7.2. Remedial Actions

The following remedial actions will be taken in consideration of

contaminated ground water sources, controlled ground water extraction and

periodic quality assessment

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Ground water of deeper aquifers should be analyzed for periodic

assessment of element like Arsenic, Fluoride, Iron etc.

Alternate sources of drinking water should be explored and prioritized.

Awareness campaigns about health hazards due to intake of excessive

Arsenic, Fluoride are the need of the time.

Role of pesticides used for agricultural activity should be carefully

observed.

Survey should be conducted regarding ground water uses by different

categories such as domestic, Industries etc. and also to identify the over

exploited and critical areas in the river stretches with respect to ground

water extraction.

Effective management of industrial effluent or sewage for preventing

contamination of ground water sources.

The industry that will extract groundwater for manufacturing process

should not operate unless they possess valid permission for groundwater

extraction from Central Ground Water Authority.

Strict vigilance and conducting inspection of the industries to rule out any

forceful treated effluent injection in to ground water resources.

Roof top rain water harvesting techniques should be encouraged for

industrial, commercial or individual households and community.

8. Flood Plain Zone

The following are the identified flood prone area for the polluted river

stretch

Name of River Flood plain areas

Digboi river Digboi Oil town, Borbil No. 3, Mission Para

8.1. Regulating activities in the Flood Plain Zone

Further following activities need to be regulated in the flood plain zones.

S.No Action points Responsible authority

1 Plantation in the flood plain zone Forest Department

2 Checking Encroachment Local administration

3 Demarcation of the flood plain zone Water Resource Department

4 Prohibition of disposal of all kinds of wastes District Administration

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8.2. Waste management status

Table XI: Management of Industrial, Municipal, Biomedical, Plastic and Electronics

Waste

Type Status Proposed actions Authority Time

Targeted

Industrial

Waste

a) Authorisation have

been granted to

different industries

in line with Water

act 1974, Hazardous

Waste (Management,

Handling and

Transboundary

Movement) Rule,

2008 as amended.

b) Regular monitoring

by PCBA to ensure

that the terms and

conditions are

strictly adhered in

accordance with the

prescribed standards.

a) Direction issued to

the industries to

identify the non-

point sources and

arrest contamination

of storm water.

b) There are no gaps in

the treatment of

industrial waste as

the industrial units

have ETPs in their

premises as

presented in Table I

Pollution

Control Board

Assam

3 Months (April 2020

– June

2020)

Municipal

waste

a) Dumping is carried

out unscientifically

in the open space.

b) No proper

segregation of bio-

degradable and non-

biodegradable waste

c) No proper

segregation of dry

and wet waste

d) Lack of scientific

disposal

facilities/infrastructu

re technology like

decentralized

composting or bio-

methanation plant,

waste to energy

plant, solid waste

management plant.

Municipal Body is in process

of inducting the following

activity

a) Implementation of

segregation of waste

at source

b) Door-to-door

Collection of waste

c) Formation of

Sanitation task Force

d) Formation of

Neighbourhood

Community

e) Awareness campaigns

f) Processing and

disposal of waste

Municipal Body

3 Months (April 2020 –

June 2020)

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Type Status Proposed actions Authority Time

Targeted

Plastic

Waste

a) Dumping is carried

out unscientifically

in the open space

along with the

municipal waste.

b) No proper

segregation of bio-

degradable and non-

biodegradable waste

c) No proper

segregation of dry

and wet waste

d) Lack of scientific

disposal

facilities/infrastructu

re technology like

decentralized

composting or bio-

methanation plant,

waste to energy

plant, solid waste

management plant.

Letter is being issued

intermittently by PCBA

to Municipal Board to

segregate and collect

plastic waste and initiate

necessary steps to

channelize the waste to

authorized agencies for

recycling and

reprocessing

ULBs/Municipal

Body/ Pollution

Control Board

Assam

3 Months (April 2020 –

June 2020)

Hazardous

Waste

a) Hazardous waste are

managed by

hazardous waste

generating industries

itself by disposing

the same through

authorised recycler,

secured landfill area,

Bio-remediation etc.

b) PCBA has engaged

collection centre for

collection of

Hazardous waste

c) Lack of TSDF

facility for

commonly utilization

by hazardous waste

generating industries

a) Awareness campaign

regarding health and

other issues related to

Hazardous waste

b) PCBA has initiated

correspondence with

the Govt. of Assam for

allotment of land for

TSDF. Pollution Control

Board Assam

Continuous

Bio-

medical

Waste

a) Biomedical waste

generated from the

HCFs are disposed

through the facility

available at IOCL

(AOD) Hospital.

Direction issued to all

HCF unit to implement

the BMW Rules, 2016

as amended in all HCF

Units. (As per

guidelines of CPCB)

HCF units/Pollution

Control Board

Assam

Continuous

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Type Status Proposed actions Authority Time

Targeted

b) Segregation at the

source under

Biomedical waste

Management Rules,

1998 as amended

c) The HCFs have

installed ETP for

treatment of liquid

waste generated

E –waste

a) Annual return in

(Form-3) is

submitted by E-

Waste generating

units to PCBA from

time to time for

onwards

transmission to

CPCB

b) Most of the e-waste

generator have sent

their e-waste to their

respective

manufacturer.

c) There is no

authorised recycler,

refurbisher,

dismantler etc.

available to ensure

environmentally

sound management

of E-waste.

d) There is no “facility”

wherein the process

of dismantling,

recycling, and

disposal of e-waste

are carried out.

e) Most of the e-waste

generator sent their

e-waste to their

respective

manufacturers.

Few entrepreneur

approached PCBA for

registration and

authorisation as

Recycler

Pollution Control

Board Assam Continuous

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8.3. Bio Medical waste generation and Gaps in treatment Table XII: Bio Medical waste generation and gaps in treatment (Digboi river)

Name of the HCF units Category BMW

Generation (Kg/Day)

Treatment facility Gaps in Treatment

AOD Hospital, Digboi,

Tinsukia Orange 10.99 Bio Medical Waste Treatment Facility in the Hospital premises

No Gaps in Bio Medical Waste in the catchment area of the wetland Total 10.99

8.4. Gaps identified in waste management

Presently, around 24925.2 Kg/day of gaps has been identified for municipal

solid waste management

8.5. Gaps in Industrial waste Management

Table XIII: Gaps in Hazardous Waste Management

S.N Name of the units Category Sludge

Generation MTA

Type of Sludge

Treatment facility

Gaps in Treatment

1 Digboi refinery, IOCL,

AOD, Digboi, Tinsukia RED 1395 Oily Sludge

residual cake

Bio-remediation at their own

premises.

No Gaps in Hazardous

Waste Management

Total 1395 MTA NIL

8.6. Greenery development - Plantation Plan

State Forest Department has initiated afforestation in the degraded

forestland, also raising roadside plantation besides creating check

dams/embankments in the river catchment areas to combat erosion and soil

conservation.

The following remedial actions has to be initiated in consideration of

greenery development

Raise plantation along the river bank to control the flow run off water

directly to the river

Bamboo species to be raised as it is a good soil binder thereby stabilize

the banks of the river from erosio

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8.7. Proposal for Biodiversity Park

At present there is no any land availability for establishment of

Biodiversity Park in the catchment area of the river.

9. Environmental Flow (E-Flow)

9.1. Stretch of river perennial or non- perennial/flow available/water

usage in the stretch

The entire stretch is perennial and carries water throughout the year. The

river maintains lean and thin flow except monsoon where ample amount of

flow and discharge is observed.

9.2. Irrigation practices in the river

Any kind of irrigation practices has not been proposed or initiated yet

However, the treated sewage can be used for many purposes which are as

follows:

Treated water can be used for de-dusting of roads in order to

minimise the impact of PM 10 and PM 2.5.

For irrigation purpose.

It can be used for roadside gardening.

It can also be used for curing during construction works.

Treated sewage can be supplied to industries for non-potable uses

9.3. Achievable Goals

Primary water Quality Criteria for Bathing water (water used for organised

outdoor bathing)

Criteria Rational

1. Fecal Coliform MPN/100 ml: 500

(desirable) 2500 (Maximum Permissible)

2. Fecal Streptococci MPN/100 ml: 100

(desirable) 500 (Maximum Permissible)

3. pH: : Between 6.5 -8.5

4. Dissolved Oxygen: 5 mg/l or more

To ensure low sewage contamination. Fecal coliform and

fecal streptococci are considered as they reflect the bacterial

pathogenicity.

The desirable and permissible limits are suggested to allow

for fluctuation in environmental conditions such as seasonal

change, changes in flow conditions etc.

The range provides protection to the skin and delicate organs

like eyes, nose, ears etc. which are directly exposed during

outdoor bathing

The minimum dissolved oxygen concentration of 5 mg/1

ensures reasonable freedom from oxygen consuming organic

pollution immediately upstream which is necessary for

preventing production of anaerobic gases (obnoxious gases)

16 | P a g e

5. Biochemical Oxygen demand 3 day,27°C:

3 mg/l or less

from sediment.

The Biochemical Oxygen Demand of 3 mg/1 or less of the

water ensures reasonable freedom from oxygen demanding

pollutants and prevent production of obnoxious gases";

10. Identified organisations responsible for preparation and execution of

the action plans

Organisations responsible for preparation and execution of the action plans

are as follows:

Secretary to the Govt. of Assam, Environment and Forest department

Secretary to the Govt. of Assam, Urban Development department

Commissioner, Industries and Commerce, Assam

Member Secretary, Pollution Control Board Assam

Commissioner, Guwahati Municipal Corporation

Commissioner to the Govt. of Assam, Water ResourceDepartment

Divisional Forest officer, Social Forestry, Basistha, Guwahati -29

11. Monitoring mechanism proposed for implementation of action plans

The water quality assessment and evaluation of impacts is necessary to

understand the river state at various stages of the project implementation and

post implementation of the project. Therefore the water quality assessment and

evaluation of the project achievements is essential component for the long term

benefit of the project. The monitoring and evaluation also indicate for taking

corrective measure at appropriate time. The ill effects may be controlled by

taking step at right time for right cause. The monitoring and evaluation schedule

and plan is proposed, which is under.

11.1 Water Quality Stations (WQS):

The water quality monitoring will include following parameters, which

shall be monitored at monthly interval or as and when required. The one

complete unit to be purchased and identified parameters to be monitored at

defined sampling stations.

The sampling stations are:

Downstream of the river before confluence with Burhidihing river

17 | P a g e

The parameters to be monitored are as follows.

1 pH 6 Bio-Chemical Oxygen Demand (BOD)

2 Turbidity 7 Faecal coliform

3 Conductivity 8 Total coliform

4 Temperature

5 Dissolved Oxygen

(DO)

Most of the parameters will be monitored manually and will be

incorporated in database.

12. Public Mass awareness etc.

Any river conservation project to be implemented successfully, public

awareness is of utmost importance. Unless the public are made aware about the

irreversible damage and pollution caused by indiscriminate littering and

dumping of waste and garbage in drain and water bodies connected to

DigboiRiver, the project cannot be implemented in true sense of the word to

achieve conservation. Some members of the communities are already aware that

there is a need for river conservation programme and that they will be

benefitted. Hence, it should be ensured with the following points

The communities are effectively involved in all the stages of the project

cycle from conceptualization, to preparation, to finalization, to

implementation and finally O & M.

Public Awareness & Public Participation should be affront-end activity of

the project

The entire programme of conservation should be conceived, formulated,

implemented, monitored and evaluated in close consultation with the

stake holding communities.

Therefore, education and awareness programmes are key to the

sustainability of the various components implemented as part of the river

restoration project.

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13. Action Plan

Table XIV: Action Points

Type Action Points Implementation

Status

Responsible

Authority Time Targeted

Cost Estimate

(In crores)

Industries

a) Strict observation/

monitoring of industrial

effluent/waste water

discharge strictly for

compliance.

b) Stringent action against

non-complying industrial

units

c) No industry should operate

or continue manufacturing

process unless they possess

valid permission for ground

water extraction from

Central Ground Water

Authority (CGWA)

d) Small service providing

units like street food selling

vendors, laundry etc. should

not be allowed to dispose

solid, liquid or semi-liquid

wastes directly into the

drains or sewers.

e) Set up online monitoring

There are no gaps

in the treatment

of industrial

waste as the

industrial units

have ETPs in

their premises as

presented in

Table I

Pollution Control

Board Assam

3 Months

(August, 2019

To

October, 2019)

Nil

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Type Action Points Implementation

Status

Responsible

Authority Time Targeted

Cost Estimate

(In crores)

system in the major

industries.

f) To stress all the industrial

units to adopt cleaner

technology and take

appropriate measures for

reduction of effluent,

recycling and reuse of

treated water

g) Directions has been issued

for Zero Liquid Discharge

(ZLD) in the major

polluting industrial units

Interception

and treatment

of raw sewage

a) The quality of waste water

flowing in the drains of

identified polluted stretch

have to be analysed and

studied to assess the drain

wise characteristics of waste

water.

b) Concerned departments

should design the

installation of Sewage

Treatment Plant (STP)

based on flow details of the

drains and utilization

A meeting has been

convened with the

concerned

stakeholders

regarding initiation

of in-situ treatment

of sewage by

bioremediation

PCBA/ Municipal

Corporation/

ULBs/

District

Administration/

Water Resource

Department

2 Years

(April, 2019

to

March, 2021)

8.0

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Type Action Points Implementation

Status

Responsible

Authority Time Targeted

Cost Estimate

(In crores)

capacity and ensure that

each households are

connected to the sewers as

applicable.

c) Sewage Treatment Plant

should also consider

treatment and disposal of

sewage for river catchment

area settlement including

discharge from toilets

constructed under Swachh

Bharat Mission

d) To trap the discharge using

strainers before falling into

river.

e) Channelization including

diversion of sewage

generated from households

to sewer lines/interception

of all the drains presently

carrying sewage and for

ensuing proper treatment

through the upcoming STPs.

f) Local administration should

provide pucca latrines to all

the households through

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Type Action Points Implementation

Status

Responsible

Authority Time Targeted

Cost Estimate

(In crores)

Individual Households

Latrines (IHHL) Scheme

under Swachh Bharat

Mission.

Ground Water

Assessment

a) Conducting survey

regarding ground water

usage by category wise such

as domestic, community,

industries etc. and also

identification of over

exploited and critical blocks

in the river stretches with

respect to the ground water

extraction.

b) Carry out assessment of

ground water survey in the

catchment area of the

identified polluted stretch

once in a year to ensure

quality.

c) All the industries should

have valid NOC from

CGWA.

d) To promote roof top rain

water harvesting by the

industrial, commercial

PCBA/CGWA Continuous

0.5

5 | P a g e

Type Action Points Implementation

Status

Responsible

Authority Time Targeted

Cost Estimate

(In crores)

including individual

households thereby

recharging the ground

water.

e) Directions to be issued that

no industries should inject

their treated effluent for

ground water recharging.

6 Months

(February,2020

to

July, 2020)

Flood Plain

Zone

a) Conservation of the river

through watershed

management.

b) Cleaning of the river bed

and bank.

c) Afforestation on both the

banks to prevent soil erosion

d) Recreational activities to be

promoted.

e) Erection of pathway of the

river banks.

f) Prohibition of disposal of

municipal, plastic,

biomedical and other wastes

in the polluted stretch of the

river bank

g) Demarcation of the flood

plain zone.

Soil Conservation

Department/Water

Resource/ Municipal

Corporation /Forest

Department/

Tourism

Department/PWD

Assam/District

Administration

6 Months

(February,2020

to

July, 2020)

1

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Type Action Points Implementation

Status

Responsible

Authority Time Targeted

Cost Estimate

(In crores)

h) Checking /removal of

encroachment in the flood

plain zone of the polluted

river stretch

Revenue

Department/District

Administration

To be decided

by the

Government

The plan for the polluted

stretches of the river may be

implemented in a time bound

manner by fragmenting

activities as

a) Modification of consent

conditions in and around the

polluted stretches.

b) Surveillance of sources of

pollution in contrast to the

norms.

c) The monitoring committee

may convene meeting of

Stakeholder organizations

on Quarterly basis with

under the chairmanship of

Chief Secretary

Pollution Control

Board Assam

3 Months

(August, 2019

to

October, 2019)

Nil

d) Assessment of water quality

of the polluted stretches on

monthly basis has already

c) Monthly

Basis Nil

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Type Action Points Implementation

Status

Responsible

Authority Time Targeted

Cost Estimate

(In crores)

been commencing

Solid Waste a) Prohibition of direct

disposal of solid waste in

the river banks.

b) Frequent River Surface

cleaning by removal of

debris, plastics etc.

Municipal

Corporation/ Water

Resource

Department

3 Months

(November,

2019

to

January, 2020)

0.4

Environmental

Flow

a) Flow measurement of the

river should be carried out

by the concerned

department and the record

has to be maintained

b) Fresh water flowing through

escape channels/small

barrages should be checked.

The river can be of good

potential for irrigation

practices and should be

carried out by the farmers

Water Resource

Department

Continuous

0.1

Public

Awareness

a) Awareness programs to

highlight the issues related

with the direct discharge of

solid waste and open

defecation.

b) Mass awareness to conserve

Environment &

Forest Department

/UDD/GMC

Continuous

0.1

8 | P a g e

Type Action Points Implementation

Status

Responsible

Authority Time Targeted

Cost Estimate

(In crores)

water.

Total Budget Estimate 10.1 crores