Subscribe
The National Green Tribunal has reprimanded the Uttar Pradesh (UP) government over the cleanliness of the Ganga-Yamuna confluence at Prayagraj, which is to host the Mahakumbh Mela in January next year.
Devotees coming to the Mahakumbh will not only take a dip at the confluence but also use the water for drinking. Hence, timely and swift measures should be taken regarding prevention of sewage flow into the water, the tribunal added.
An NGT bench headed by its chairman, Justice Prakash Srivastava, is hearing the case of petitioner Kamlesh Singh.
After considering the report of a joint committee on July 1, the bench said the document showed that no effective efforts are being made for the upcoming Mahakumbh.
The city of Prayagraj has 81 drains through which 289.97 million litres per day (MLD) of sewage is released. Of this, only 178.31 MLD of sewage reaches the existing 10 Sewage Treatment Plants (STP) through the sewage network. The remainder 128.28 MLD sewage remains treated.
Some 44 of the 81 drains are still untapped. A volume of 73.80 million litres per day (MLD) of untreated sewage is falling directly into the Ganga through these drains.
The advocate for the UP government said 17 of the 44 drains will be tapped and connected to STPs by November 2024, which will prevent the production of 11.61 MLD sewage.
Apart from this, three STPs with a total capacity of 183 MLD are being built to meet the shortfall in sewage treatment of 44 drains. The capacity of these three STPs is 90, 43 and 50 MLD.
The bench was not satisfied with the arguments of the government. It said the report of the joint committee clearly showed that the tender process for STPs of 90 and 50 MLD capacity has not even started yet. At the same time, the work on the 43 MLD STP has started from March 19, 2024.
The tribunal said the report of the joint committee has highlighted many shortcomings. For instance, 468.28 MLD sewage is generated through the drains and sewage network in Prayagraj every day. Of this, 73.80 MLD is falling into the Ganga-Yamuna confluence through the 44 untapped drains. The remaining 394.48 MLD sewage is being sent to 10 STPs with a capacity of 340 MLD.
The NGT said clarity was required as the amount of sewage being produced was in excess of the capacity to treat it. How was the sewage being treated, it asked?
The court also pointed to the fact that 166,456 houses are yet to be connected to the sewage network. In such a situation, will the sewage be sent for treatment to the existing STP or to the proposed STP? This requires an explanation.
The next hearing in the case is on September 23, 2024. That is when the state government will have to submit a progress report to the tribunal regarding action taken appropriate steps to prevent sewage discharge.
Sewage discharge into the confluence should not only be stopped completely but the quality of river water should be made potable. The quality of river water should also be displayed and devotees and pilgrims at bathing ghats informed about it, said the bench.