Gorakhpur effluent plant delay over govt report: NMCG

A delay exists in setting up a common effluent treatment plant (CETP) at the Gorakhpur Industrial Development Authority (GIDA) because the government of Uttar Pradesh has not forwarded the detailed project report (DPR) to the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG). This was stated in the report NMCG filed before the NGT on August 19, 2026.

NMCG is actively pursuing the matter with the Uttar Pradesh government and implementing agencies for expeditious processing of the reivsed DPR and establishment of the proposed CETP, the report said.

The matter related to discharge of untreated industrial effluent by GIDA through the Saraya drain into River Ami, a tributary of river Ganga, near village Adilapur, block Piprauli, district Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh.

In order to facilitate implementation of the proposed CETP, NMCG, August 6, 2025 requested government of Uttar Pradesh on August 6, 2025, to designate GIDA / UPSIDA / IIDD as the responsible agency for the construction, operation and maintenance of the proposed common effluent treatment plant.

In February 3, 2026 the NMCG requested the Uttar Pradesh government to convene a meeting of the State Level Committee headed by the Additional Chief Secretary for consideration of the DPR for establishing the proposed 4 MLD CETP at GIDA Industrial Area, Gorakhpur.

With a view to assess the present status of pollution in river Ami and the progress of pollution abatement measures in the GIDA Industrial Area, Gorakhpur, officials of the NMCG conducted a site visit on May 12-13, 2026. The inspection was undertaken to assess the status of industrial wastewater discharge, compliance by water polluting industries, drains discharging into river Ami, solid waste management and the status of ongoing and proposed pollution abatement infrastructure, including the proposed CETP.

Thereafter, a meeting of the state level committee was held on February 13, 2026 and June 18, 2026 for review, examination and consider the revised detailed project report for the proposed 4 MLD CETP at GIDA Industrial Area, Gorakhpur.

The CETP is proposed to be implemented in phases, with Phase-I envisaging a capacity of 2 MLD. The DPR was revised and submitted to GIDA. GIDA forwarded the revised DPR to the Additional Chief Secretary, Infrastructure and Industrial Development Department (IIDD), requesting that it should be forwarded to NMCG for consideration and final approval.

The UP government-approved revised DPR is yet to be received by NMCG for its consideration and further necessary action.

No Piezometer installed by Delhi Jal Board (DJB)

The NGT directed on September 11, 2019, that rainwater harvesting systems (RWHS) should not be installed close to storm water drains to avoid contamination of groundwater during recharging from the RWHS. However, wherever the RWHS installation has taken place it is in violation of the court order, the court was appraised, August 19, 2026.

The Delhi Jal Board (DJB) filed a compliance affidavit on August 21, 2025 stating the steps taken to comply with the court order of 2019.

The applicant, Mahesh Chandra Saxena submitted a tabular note on February 14, 2026 disclosing the status of non-compliance by the authorities especially the DJB.

The NGT had directed piezometers to be installed near the RWHS for monitoring of groundwater level and water quality of recharged water. The applicant stated till now, even after nearly seven years of the order to be executed not a single Piezometer has been installed by the Delhi Jal Board (DJB).

Each department which is installing RWH system has to install Piezometer with RWH system in a radius of 1 sq km — Delhi is a area of 1500 sq km therefore, 1,500 Piezometers need to be installed but nothing has been done by the respondents, more particularly DJB.

Each department which has to install RWH system has to check working condition of RWHS systems. When the RWHS related work itself has not been done then the issue of closing of deficient RWHS also remains unresolved.

Those RWHS which are deficient are still working near the storm water drains and infact twice the number have been constructed and are working all across Delhi, the court was informed.

The applicant informed the court that on April 25, 2025 an action taken report was filed by the Delhi Pollution Control Committee whereby DPCC has issued show cause notices for imposition of interim compensation of Rs 5 lakhs and rectification of deficiencies in RWHS to DDA and MCD on April 23, 2025.

A show cause dated April 23, 2025 was also issued to CGWA inter-alia, seeking policy guidelines for imposing EC on defaulting entities for installing defective RWHS.

A show cause dated April 23, 2025 was also issued to CPCB asking to provide policy / guidelines for imposition of EC on defaulting entities for installing defective RWHS.

But on field no action till date has been taken. Infact the situation has further worsened with the passage of time, the applicant, Mahesh Chandra Saxena informed the court.

Counsel for the DJB sought time to obtain instructions in respect of the allegation of the above non-compliance and file a further compliance report.

Management of greywater from Nagar Panchayat Lar

Nagar Panchayat Lar, Deoria district failed to comply with the NGT order of September 15, 2023 to manage used / grey water generated within the nagar panchayat noted the NGT, August 19, 2026.

The NGT, on September 15, 2023, directed the Principal Secretary, Urban Development, Uttar Pradesh to explore setting up four waste stabilization ponds instead of existing two ponds. In the filed report, fecal coliform parameters, though within limits, were in the higher range and therefore require control. These two issues require further consideration by the Lar Nagar Panchayat.

The NGT disposed of the application with a direction to the Nagar Panchayat Lar to examine the two issues: specifically, to conduct sample analysis after three months regarding compliance with fecal coliform norms. The second direction was operationalisation of sewage treatment system and submit a report before the Registrar General of the tribunal by December 22, 2023.

When the NGT, took up the matter on August 19, 2026 the counsel for the Executive Officer, Nagar Panchayat, Lar referred to the action taken report of August 17, 2026. The report stated that a proposal was prepared for the construction of two ponds (Pokhara / Talab) for a comprehensive and permanent solution.

The proposal, Used Water Management for Nagar Panchayat Lar, district Deoria, outlines a comprehensive system for collecting, treating, and managing the used/grey water generated within Nagar Panchayat Lar. The projected population covered in the initial year 2026 is 34,147, with total water consumption of 4,609.84 KLD, sewage generation of 3,687.87 KLD and grey-water generation estimated at approximately 2,600 KLD.

The proposed system divides the area into three zones and provides for treatment through waste stabilisation ponds (WSP), leach pits with silt chambers and a co-treatment plant, supported by around 4,920 metres of I&D works. The proposal includes two WSPs of 600 KLD and 1,500 KLD capacity, 61 leach pits of 10 KLD each (610 KLD), and one 4 KLD co-treatment facility, with grey water routed through settling, screening and gritchamber arrangements before treatment.

Nagar Panchayat of Lar submitted that land has been allocated and funds sanctioned, and a new report mentioning the timeline for completing the construction and operationalisation of the STP would be placed on record.

The Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board (UPPCB) in compliance with the tribunal's earlier order, provided the calculation of environmental compensation via an affidavit on May 7, 2026.

The UPPCB was directed to initiate the process for imposing the EC and file the compliance report. The next hearing is scheduled for November 6, 2026.

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