Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on July 7 inaugurated a latest tech sewage treatment plant (STP) with a capacity of 15 million gallons per day (MGD) in Mohali.
This project of the STP, worth ₹145.26 crore, has been hailed as a major step towards conserving water and protecting the environment in the state.
Speaking at the inauguration, Mann said the latest technology has been employed in the construction of the facility, which will soon be replicated across other parts of Punjab.
He emphasised the need to conserve the state's precious water resources by ensuring the optimum utilisation of wastewater through such modern infrastructure.
Drawing a comparison with Singapore, Mann noted how the island nation uses micro-filtration technology to make rainwater potable.
He said Punjab is moving in a similar direction to preserve water for future generations. Mann was accompanied at the event by Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.
Mann added that since the AAP government took office in Punjab, it has taken meaningful steps to protect the environment, revive the canal system and promote sustainable development. “We are ensuring that water is treated with the best available technology to safeguard the resource for the coming generations,” he said.
Highlighting the cultural and spiritual significance of environmental preservation, Mann quoted the verse from Gurbani — “Pawan Guru, Paani Pitaah, Mata Dharat Mahat” — which equates air to a teacher, water to a father, and earth to a mother.
“The time has come to imbibe these teachings in our daily lives,” he said, urging citizens to plant more trees and support the state government's green initiatives.
The chief minister credited the development vision of Arvind Kejriwal, saying Punjab was benefiting from the administrative experience and innovative policies Kejriwal had introduced in Delhi.
Kejriwal, in his address, described the inauguration of the 15 MGD STP as a matter of great pride. He announced that a comprehensive urban development plan would be rolled out in 166 cities of Punjab starting this December.
“The state will undergo a complete transformation in the coming months, with planned improvements in water supply, sewerage, sanitation, street lighting and STPs,” he said.
Kejriwal also revealed that along with the 15 MGD STP, a 5 MGD ultra-filtration tertiary treatment plant had been set up — Punjab’s first of its kind.
The treated water will be reused for irrigation, road cleaning, toilet flushing and other municipal applications, reducing dependency on fresh groundwater and aiding conservation efforts.
A 1 MW solar power plant has also been installed at the site to minimise electricity consumption. The Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA) has developed the plant with a forward-looking approach, accounting for urban expansion and population growth over the next two decades.
Both leaders expressed confidence that these environmentally conscious projects will contribute significantly to sustainable urban development in Punjab.
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