Report by National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) on the steps taken to arrest the deteriorating water quality of river Ganga in Bihar, 17/03/2025
Reply affidavit on behalf of National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) in the matter of a news item titled "Ganga water unsafe even for bathing says Bihar Government report on river pollution" appearing in Hindustan Times dated 26/02/2024.
A consultation meeting was held with Bihar and Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) to assess the further progress on September 11, 2024 at NMCG under the Chairmanship of DG, NMCG.
In the consultative meeting, the government of Bihar was sensitized on the gravity of the issue with regard to the deterioration of the water quality in the river and had been impressed upon to initiate and take certain further steps on a set of issues raised therein.
"Bihar government is attempting and gearing up the pace of work to complete ongoing STP projects and new projects of I&D with STP at the earliest on the priority basis". For non-compliant 8 STPs, Bihar Urban Infrastructure Development Corporation (BUIDCO) was requested to take legal action against the concerned work agencies and to conduct the work as per the prescribed criteria for proper functioning of STPs. Bihar State Pollution Control Board is monitoring the quality of treated effluent of all the operational STPs of the state. The SPCB is also taking action on non-complying STPs. An environmental compensation (EC) of Rs 1,09,60,000 has been imposed on STPs on the basis of NMCG letter dated January 29, 2025. This was the response of the state of Bihar in respect of the decision taken in the meeting, September 11, 2024.
Directions were issued to Bihar to take up STP proposals in the Ganga main stem districts having gap in sewage treatment on priority basis. State was further directed to expedite all pending permissions with NHAI/Railways/Forest and ensure smooth construction of 10 ongoing STPs and associated infrastructure. Further state was directed to quickly initiate the work on ground for six recently awarded STPs. The state was also asked to ensure that the existing STPs are being properly maintained and operated and corrective measures are taken for resolving the issue of non-compliance of the STPs. The report also informed the NGT that during an inspection carried out by NMCG on December 28, 2024, the 60 MLD STP at Saidpur, Patna was found to be non-compliant with respect to the stipulated discharge norms including non-operational chlorination system.
The NMCG report dated March 17, 2025 said that vide letter dated January 1, 2025 the work for monitoring study and mapping faecal coliform in river Ganga water in downstream Ghazipur (Uttar Pradesh) to Bhagalpur (Bihar) was entrusted to IIT BHU.