Water Quality of Ganga in UP Deteriorating Due To Discharge of Sewage: National Green Tribunal

New Delhi: National Green Tribunal (NGT) has observed that water quality in Ganga in Uttar Presh is deteriorating because of discharge of sew or sull into river.

Earlier, while considering prevention and control of pollution in Ganga, green body sought compliance reports from various states, including Uttar Presh.

In an order dated vember 6, a bench of NGT Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava said according to report from Uttar Presh, re was a gap of 128 million litres per day (MLD) in sew treatment in Prayagraj district.

Also, 25 untapped drains discharged untreated sew into Ganga in district and 15 untapped drains discharged sull into Yamuna, bench, also comprising judicial member Justice Sudhir Agarwal and expert member A Senthil Vel, said.

"We find that out of 326 drains disclosed in report of Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) dated October 22, 247 drains are untapped (in state) and discharging 3,513.16 MLD of waste water into river Ganga and its tributaries," tribunal said.

Expressing dissatisfaction, it directed state's chief secretary to file an affidavit disclosing information regarding each drain across different districts, sew generated from those, sew treatment plants (STP) to which those were proposed to be connected and timeline for making STPs functional.

" affidavit will also disclose short-term measures that will be opted to prevent discharge of untreated sew in river in respect of each of districts and drain till STPs are me fully functional and 100 per cent household connectivity is achieved," bench said.

It also took te of CPCB report disclosing status of 41 STPs across 16 Ganga-front towns, which said six plants are n-operational and of 35 operational STPs, only one complied with rules.

"We also find that water quality monitored at 41 locations clearly discloses that faecal coliform (FC) exceeds most probable number (MPN) of 500/100 ml at 16 locations and is more than 2,500 MPN/100 ml at 17 locations. Thus, it clearly discloses fact that water quality is deteriorating on account of discharge of sew or sull into river Ganga," tribunal said.

According to CPCB, desirable level of faecal coliform, which is microbes from excreta of humans and animals, is MPN of 500/100 ml.

tribunal also directed chief secretary of Uttar Presh to disclose steps taken or proposed for making STPs functional and to ensure that all plants comply with specified rms.

affidavit has to be filed within four weeks, it said.

matter has been posted on January 20 for furr proceedings.

(Except for heline, this story has t been edited by Republic and is published from a syndicated feed.)