THE Varanasi-based NGO, SankatMochan Foundation (SMF), has submitted an alternative to the Ganga ActionPlan (GAP) to the Centre in early May.The group has approached the GangaProject Directorate for its plan to beincluded in the GAP phase II. The planenvisages the construction of a 'gravityflow interceptor' sewer along the Gangato prevent sewage from entering theriver. The plan also aims at doing awaywith the use of expensive equipmentusually required at pumping stations.
Varanasi, one of the oldest towns inthe world, is responsible for one-fourthof Uttar Pradesh's contribution of Pollutants to the Ganga. The seven-kmstretch of the river receives the highestpollution load anywhere along thecourse of the river. In addition to itspopulation of 15 lakh, tens of thousandsof pilgrims visit Varanasi every year.
"While the government has alreadyspent around Rs 43 crore in Varanasi,not much has really been achieved interms of improvement of water quality," says V B Mishra, president of theSMF. "The main reason is that the present design is a cost-intensive one,entirely dependent on power supply tocarry the town's sewage to the sewagetreatment plants (STP)," he adds. ThreeSTPs in Varanasi generate 147 millionlitre a day (mld) of waste water. Of this,GAP sought to treat 1,215 mld (this hassince been scaled down to 101 mld).SMF members argue that as Varanasifaces severe power shortages, the schemes constructed under GAP did notfunction as planned. Moreover, theypoint out that the upflow anaerobicsludge blanket in the STPs are unable toreduce the faecal coliform in the riverwater, which has touched an astoundingcount ranging from 5,000 to over4,00,000 MPN (most probable number)/100 ml against the specified limitof 500 MPN/100 mld.
Narayan Mishra, chairperson,Nagar Nigam Working Committee ofVaranasi, says that the municipality hasaccepted the new scheme. "What is theuse of the existing schemes? Most of thepumping stations and the equipment inthe STP lie idle, and untreated sewageenters the river just as before, because oflack of power supplies," he says. SarojSingh, mayor of Varanasi, adds that theinterception and diversion work by GAP Summing up povertyhas led to houses and roads to sink atKabirchaura, Madanpura.The alternative plan - estimated at Rs 80 crore - envisages setting up of oxidation ponds, around 14 km downstream of Varanasi, on the dry riverbedbetween Mustafabad and Ramchandipur. The SMF claims that by introducingpisciculture and using the treated waterfor irrigation, a substantial earning ispossible from these ponds.
Jai Prakash Mani, project engineerwith the Uttar Pradesh Jai Nigam, however, points out that as the proposed'gravity drain' would have to be belowthe high water mark, it would be ineffective during the monsoons. "Besides, thisplan requires pumps as well, when thesewage would have to be lifted into theoxidation ponds," says Mani.
The land proposed to be used foroxidation ponds is on the river bed.This, says Mani, would imply that during the monsoons, all the collected wastewater would return into the riverspurring recurring expenses for desilting these ponds. However, N C Gupta,general manager of the Ganga pollutioncontrol unit-Allahabad and Varanasi,contradicts Mani and adds that erraticpower supplies remains the bane of GAP."We face power shortages at the STP aswell. There are no alternative arrangements at the STPs."