Ganga is the holy river of Hindus. The pollution it faces is a cause of concern not just for believers, but for everyone else too.

Taking a serious note of the issue, the National Green Tribunal has directed Uttar Pradesh Jal Nigam to expeditiously complete the work of sewer connectivity to households at Narora town in Bulandshahr district to ensure that no untreated water is discharged into the Ganga.

It slammed the Jal Nigam over non-functional sewage treatment plant at Narora and discharge of untreated sewage in a pond adjacent to the river.

A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice A K Goel said, ‘UP Jal Nigam must perform its responsibility and cannot take the plea that fault was of the contractor.

The work of sewer connectivity to households be completed expeditiously which may be reviewed by the principal secretary, Urban Development, UP.’

The green panel said the Jal Nigam is held liable to pay Rs 5 lakh for their default which may be deposited with the state pollution control board within one month to be spent for restoration of the environment.

The tribunal was perusing a report filed by an oversight committee headed by former High Court Judge which said the Chief Engineer of the Jal Nigam had informed it that the Naraura Project was sanctioned in 2015 and as per the project, it was proposed that treated water shall be discharged into river Ganga.

‘The sewage treatment plant was installed in 2018 but became operational since February 2.

As per the inspection report submitted by UPPCB, the capacity of Naraura STP is of 4 MLD (million litres per day), but current total utilisation is of 2 MLD.

Despite having excess capacity, still 5 MLD untreated sewage is being discharged in river Ganga through drains,’ the committee said.

The tribunal was hearing a plea filed by residents of Nodai Wagar village in Narora town, alleging that the STP unit was discharging untreated wastewater in the Ganga.

There was no pipeline for discharging treated effluent, the plea said. It is saddening to see waste is let into Ganga. It is high time to preserve the river.