Recently, the NGT received a report from the government of Uttarakhand that the origin point of the Ganga River has become polluted due to discharge from sewage treatment plants. This will be the next phase in the long journey to clean Ganga. This is a report presented before the tribunal that seeks redressal actions as it raises issues of faecal contamination, operational inefficiencies in treatment plants, and untreated sewage discharge into the river for immediate redressal actions on the part of NGT.
NGT Hearing: Pollution at Ganga’s Origin Point
During a review of pollution control measures along the Ganga River in Uttarakhand by NGT, an advocate brought to notice startling findings by the state government’s report. According to the report, the origination point of the river near Gangotri also shows a notable pollution due to sewage treatment plants. At Gangotri STP with a capacity of 1 MLD, faecal coliform contents at 540/100 ml were recorded which surpasses the maximum recommended by Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) for outdoor bathing waters 500/100 ml.
Faecal coliform levels indicate the level of contamination from human and animal waste, which may pose health risks both for the local populace and visitors to the area. High FC levels make the water not suitable for bathing, which is a cause of concern in a river like the Ganga, as it receives extensive footfall for religious purposes. This is an urgent call by the NGT for STP to improve its measures of water quality management at the source of the Ganga.
NGT Criticism on State’s Report about Compliance of STPs
The NGT bench consisting of Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava, judicial member Justice Sudhir Agarwal, and expert member A. Senthil Vel raised doubts over the report filed by the Uttarakhand government. The tribunal based on the report of CPCB too found errors as there were differences in compliance and working of STP across the state.
According to the CPCB, of the 53 STPs installed by the state in Uttarakhand, only 50 were operational, but their 48 examples failed to achieve standard conditions, particularly with regard to the level of FC, efficiency of BOD removal, and usage percentage. BOD is another measurable factor that signifies the amount of oxygen used by the bacteria in breaking organic matter present in water. High levels of BOD indicate the excessive presence of organic pollution, which depletes the river’s reservoir of oxygen required for aquatic life; hence, it proves detrimental to the ecosystem of the river in general.
The tribunal is of the opinion that the state report may not be comprehensive or cogent considering that it seems to be at variance with the very findings of the CPCB. It, therefore, directed the Chief Secretary of Uttarakhand to look into the matter in detail and get a proper report submitted to it, plugging all the holes in compliance.
Undertreated and Overloaded STPs Scattered All Across Uttarakhand
Other issues surfacing from the NGT proceedings are that of uneven functioning of the STPs in Uttarakhand. Most of them are operating below or above the designed capacity. In case of underutilized plants, one has examples like Dehradun, Uttarkashi, Pauri, and Chamoli as underutilized ones did not attempt to process their full capacities of raw sewage collected. On the other hand, plants at Haridwar and Tehri have their overloads managed above the design capacity.
The report further noted that flood-prone STPs are not well protected. Inundation and backflow risks pose damaging effects to these facilities. In most cases, increased polluted water levels arise from overloaded or underutilized treatment plants, which degrade the process of sewage processing; many untreated or partially treated wastes directly enter the Ganga and its tributaries.
Wastewater Released from 63 Untreated Drains And Junctions
Further worsening the situation of river pollution, the NGT also held that there are as many as 63 open drains in the state of Uttarakhand which are pouring untreated sewage directly into Ganga and its tributaries. The situation is worst in cities like Kashipur, Bazpur, and Kitchha of the Udham Singh Nagar district, where all the local open drains remain ununked and pour untreated wastes into the river.
These unaccounted drains permit untreated sewage carrying high loads of BOD and faecal coliforms to flow into the river system, contributing to an increase in pollution along with health hazards among human populations nearby. The tribunal sternly refused the exclusion of sources of pollution from the list and asked for a time-bound program devised by the state to meet the standards established for the environment.
Future Course of Action and Accountability
Such recommendations by the NGT have been met with the directive from NGT to Chief Secretary, Uttarakhand, for an all-inclusive report on measures taken to address issues related to STP compliance, treatment capacity issues and untreated drain discharge into the Ganga. Clarification regarding timelines for implementation towards taking such corrective measures would also be sought as the very purpose is to ensure that incremental steps are made towards improving the health of the river Ganga.
The NGT has put the further hearing on the same issue on February 13, which gave the state government an opportunity to present an updated report stating the steps that the ministry has taken to rectify the deficiencies identified.
Conclusion
The realization that even the source of the Ganga river is polluted reflects the problem in maintaining a sensible level of quality of water in one of the country’s most sacred rivers. The NGT’s report clearly shows the strong requirement for more stringent enforcement of pollution control standards and for more systemized improvement in sewage treatment infrastructure in the state of Uttarakhand. Even by addressing the underutilized and overburdened STPs, tapping untreated drains, and enforcing stricter control over the norms of pollution, the state could take an excellent leap ahead toward protecting the health and legacy of the river.
Source: Adapted from the National Green Tribunal proceedings and Uttarakhand government report on Ganga pollution.