Six months on,environment policy remains on paper

The Irrigation department will soon submit their views,following which the policy draft would be placed before the government for approval,said Ranjan.

Ravindra Kumar,executive engineer,Irrigation department,said: “STPs do no treat sewage completely. We suggest the use of treated sewage water for irrigation.”

Environmental expert in the department Dr Seema Srivastava added: “Towns should be identified where conditions are not favourable for 100 per cent treatment of sewage. The policy should incorporate the steps required for sewage treatment at such places.”

After preparing the draft policy,the Environment department, in January,had invited objections from various government departments.

“All other departments have given their nod to the contents of the policy. But the objection from the Irrigation Department is holding the policy’s progress,” said an Environment department official.

Once the environment policy is approved,the government will have to keep its recommendations in mind while formulating policies and schemes for economic and social development of the state.