Counter affidavit on behalf of Chief Municipal Engineer, Patna Nagar Nigam on solid waste management and sanitation in Patna, 20/05/2025
Counter affidavit on behalf of Chief Municipal Engineer, Patna Nagar Nigam in the matter of Saurav Narayan Vs Bihar Pollution Control Board & Others dated May 20, 2025.
The report said that the corporation has been diligently performing its statutory duties within the limitations of the available resources and infrastructure. The report said that as per the division of responsibilities between various government agencies, the construction, operation and maintenance of sewage treatment plants (STPs) and major drainage systems in Patna fall under the purview of the Bihar Urban Infrastructure Development Corporation (BUIDCO) and not directly under the Patna Municipal Corporation.
The Patna Municipal Corporation has been regularly undertaking cleaning operations of the drains within its jurisdiction to prevent clogging and overflow. The corporation has deployed dedicated teams for desilting and removal of solid waste from all major and minor drains.
A letter dated May 16, 2025 stated that Patna Municipal Corporation wants to adjoin the drainage system to the existing STPs during the rainy season for controlling and managing pollution. The corporation requested BUIDCO to provide information about sewer networks located alongside or near the six ghats in Patna (Loharwa Ghat, Bharwa Ghat, Gaay Ghat, Rani Ghat, Anta Ghat and Masjit Ghat) for adjoining the drains to the sewage network. The corporation also sought from BUIDCO to provide the timeline for completion of the STP plants.
The Patna Municipal Corporation has intensively implemented a door to door waste collection system in the areas of Patna city to ensure that the household waste is properly segregated, collected and disposed of, thereby reducing the likelihood of waste being dumped into drains.
As per information received from BUIDCO they have already floated tenders and allotted contracts for setting up of sewage treatment plants (STPs) in various locations in Patna, which are expected to be completed within a time frame specified by BUIDCO. With regard to the allegations concerning the condition of drains at Loharwa Ghat, Bahrwa Ghat, Gaay Ghat, Rani Ghat, Anta Ghat and Masjid Ghat, it is submitted that while these drains might have shown elevated levels of certain parameters as alleged in the application filed before the NGT, the municipal corporation has been regularly cleaning these drains to remove the solid waste and reduce the pollution load.