Fecal coliform concentrations are high throughout the entire stretch of the Ganga in West Bengal.
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has issued a stern warning to the authorities in West Bengal after finding the entire stretch of river Ganga in the state unfit for bathing due to high levels of fecal coliform bacteria. The NGT, the judicial body tasked with environmental protection, found that 258.67 million liters of untreated sewage per day is flowing directly into the river, posing a significant health risk.
This shocking thing came to light during the hearing regarding the ongoing efforts to prevent, control and reduce pollution in river Ganga in various states. The NGT was reviewing a report submitted by West Bengal in response to earlier directions aimed at addressing this important issue.
NGT bench Chairman Justice Prakash Srivastava expressed deep concern after examining reports filed by district magistrates of several districts of West Bengal, including North 24 Parganas, Murshidabad, Nadia, Malda, Hooghly, East Burdwan, Howrah, East Medinipur and South . 24 Parganas. The report revealed a lack of adequate sewage treatment facilities across the state, with some districts like East Medinipur surprisingly lacking even a single sewage treatment plant (STP).
The NGT has warned West Bengal authorities that they could be fined if they fail to demonstrate significant progress in dealing with the issue of untreated sewage flowing into the Ganga.
“On looking into these reports, we generally find that no adequate facilities have been set up for the treatment of sewage generated daily and even the timeline to achieve the target of 100 per cent treatment of sewage has also not been disclosed.” The bench, which also included judicial member Sudhir Aggarwal and expert members A Senthil Vel and Afroz Ahmed, said.
In an order passed on February 21, the bench said it was “surprising” that not even a single sewage treatment plant (STP) had been installed in some districts like Purba Medinipur.
“The situation shown in these reports is not satisfactory and reveals that 258.67 million liters per day (MLD) of untreated sewage is flowing directly into the river Ganga in the state of West Bengal,” it said.
The green panel directed the DMs of the nine districts through which the main stream of the river flows to file an affidavit setting out the time frame to achieve the target of 100 per cent treatment of sewage generated every day.
The tribunal said that DMs will also have to disclose the manner and extent of utilization of funds received from the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG), apart from the steps taken for demarcation of flood plains in their districts.
“We have also found that the entire stretch of river Ganga in West Bengal has high levels of fecal coliform, making the water unfit for bathing and thus not meeting the primary water quality criteria,” it said.
The tribunal directed NMCG to conduct a performance audit of the generation and treatment of waste in each district and the amount of pollution in each river.
“We did not find any progress in reduction of discharge of pollutants into river Ganga in any district. Therefore, if the next report does not show adequate progress, the tribunal will have no option but to impose environmental compensation. (EC), ” the tribunal said. It ordered the DM and NMCG concerned to file fresh reports within eight weeks and posted the matter to May 2 for further proceedings.
(With inputs from PTI)
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