The Kanpur District Magistrate Jitendra Pratap Singh has ordered officials to speed up the construction of the 20 MLD Common Effluent Treatment Plant (CETP) in Jajmau. The strict directive came during a high-level meeting held on Thursday, where the slow progress of the project came under fire.
Officials from various departments, the project manager, and the secretary of Jajmau Tannery Effluent Treatment Association (JETTA) attended the meeting. The DM was not pleased with what he heard.
The project manager admitted that the construction agency, VA Tech Wabag, had shown very little progress over the past 55 days. In response, the DM demanded that the work be completed quickly and without further delay.
The project engineer added that VA Tech Wabag had already been fined Rs 30 lakh for its slow work. The DM directed the JETTA secretary to recover the full amount from the company immediately.
There was more trouble revealed in the meeting. About 80 tanneries have still not made their required payments for the project. The DM ordered that a list of these defaulters be sent to the Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board (UPPCB) so that strict legal action can be taken.
The DM also scolded VA Tech Wabag for poor handling of sludge waste and reminded everyone that all work must follow proper environmental rules and guidelines.
