Kishangarh is the first residential area situated near the choe that originates from Sukhna Lake. Although iron fencing was installed to stop trespassers into the choe, it does not appear sufficient.

A visit to the site shows the sewage pipeline coming from Kishangarh connected last year to a sewage treatment plant (STP) was broken resulting in the wastewater diverted to storm waterline, thereby emitting continuous dirty water in the seasonal stream. Garbage was also found dumped on the surface under a small bridge over the choe.

“The pipeline connected to the STP was broken as the pillars upon which it stood were washed under the fast current of water during incessant rain in July this year. The overflown water had even entered the STP making most of the machinery non-functional. Since then, STP is not operational and sewage water being released into the Sukhna choe,” a worker present in the STP told The Indian Express. He said that responsibility to repair the damage sewage pipeline is of Municipal Corporation (MC), while the maintenance of the STP is with Engineering Wing of UT administration.

The STP having a capacity of 2 MLD (million litre per day) is situated just opposite to the village. Between Kishangarh and STP is the choe. Similar scene was witnessed behind Bapu Dham Colony at Sector 26 from where Sukhna Choe crosses too.

An approximate length of Sukhna choe is around 11 km. It passes through Manimajra, Kishangarh, adjoining Bapu Dham Colony, Industrial Area Phase 1, and finally enters the Ghaggar river near Zirakpur.

Notably, in May this year, the UT forest department had floated the tenders for cleanliness of the Sukhna Choe at the cost of Rs 1.37 crore. The cleanliness work was completed before the monsoon.

When contacted, TC Nautiyal, Chairman, Chandigarh Pollution Control Board (CPCB), said: “the issue is in our knowledge. Concerned departments will be asked to act properly”. Nautiyal, who is also Chief Conservator of Forests (CCF), UT, further underscored that the forest department cleans the Sukhna Choe every year prior so that rainwater flows without facing any obstacle. “It was witnessed that due to garbage, bushes, etc the rainwater choked, which made the choe to overflow, and led to water entering into residential localities,” he added.

A day earlier, a visit to at least five locations coming in the route of N-choe had suggested that sewage water being drained in the choe while garbage, concrete waste, medical waste, unused furniture, and broken sinks were found thrown on both the edges of the stream. Most of the thrown garbage has reached the inside of the stream.

The worst situation was witnessed at Hibiscus Garden in Sector 36 through which N-choe is passing. A wide drain pipe, which is only for the storm and rainwater, was emitting continuous sewage water, making a small pond where the water fell and moved further.