In a recent environmental development, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has pulled up the states of Jharkhand and Uttarakhand over persistent untreated sewage into Ganga, raising alarm bells on the health of India’s most sacred river. Despite government claims that faecal coliform levels are under control, reality paints a murkier picture. This post dives deep into the NGT’s latest questioning, the governance issues involved, and the critical role of Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs).
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has taken suo motu cognisance and asked the governments of Jharkhand and Uttarakhand to submit clear justifications on why Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) are still not operational in many stretches of the Ganga. This comes at a time when parliamentary submissions painted a relatively clean picture of the river’s health, citing “acceptable” faecal coliform levels.
However, the NGT, responsible for environmental justice in India, highlighted glaring issues in ground-level implementation of the Namami Gange Mission—India’s flagship programme to rejuvenate the Ganga.
Jharkhand’s Ganga stretches, especially around Sahibganj, were labelled as “pristine” by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), yet untreated sewage continues to flow unabated. This contradiction has led the NGT to demand accountability from State Jal Boards, which are in charge of wastewater management.
🏭 What is the Role of STPs in Ganga Cleaning?
Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) play a crucial role in ensuring that wastewater is treated before it is discharged into any river body. Under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, no untreated water should be allowed into rivers.
Despite this, many STPs remain non-functional due to:
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Lack of electricity or maintenance
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Incomplete infrastructure
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Poor accountability by contractors
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Weak monitoring by State Pollution Control Boards
Under the Namami Gange programme, every city along the Ganga was supposed to have operational STPs by 2022. Yet, in states like Jharkhand, this target remains unmet.
📌 Points to Remember
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📜 Pollution control of water bodies is governed by the Water Act, 1974.
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⚙️ Several STPs are either non-functional or under construction in Jharkhand and Uttarakhand.
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🌊 Jharkhand’s Ganga stretches are declared “pristine” by CPCB—but contradicting ground reality persists.
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🧾 NGT has demanded accountability and status reports from Jal Boards.
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🛠️ STP compliance is crucial for achieving Namami Gange’s objectives.
🎯 Exam Relevance
This issue holds high relevance for UPSC and JPSC aspirants, particularly under topics of Environmental Governance, River Rejuvenation, and State-Centre Coordination in infrastructure. It’s a case study on how governance gaps can derail even the most ambitious national missions.
Expect questions around:
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Structure and role of NGT
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Challenges in STP implementation
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Analysis of Namami Gange’s success and failures
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Role of CPCB and State Pollution Boards
🧠 MCQs on “Untreated Sewage into Ganga”
1. Which of the following statements regarding the Namami Gange programme is/are correct?
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It aims at the conservation and rejuvenation of the Ganga River.
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It is implemented by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
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Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) are a major component under this programme.
Select the correct answer using the code below:
A. 1 and 2 only
B. 2 and 3 only
C. 1 and 3 only ✅
D. 1, 2 and 3
2. The National Green Tribunal (NGT) recently questioned which of the following states over untreated sewage discharge into the Ganga river?
A. Bihar and West Bengal
B. Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand
C. Jharkhand and Uttarakhand ✅
D. Himachal Pradesh and Sikkim
3. Under which of the following Acts is pollution of water bodies, including rivers, regulated in India?
A. Environment (Protection) Act, 1986
B. Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 ✅
C. Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981
D. Biological Diversity Act, 2002
4. Which agency is primarily responsible for setting pollution standards and monitoring water quality in India?
A. National Water Development Agency (NWDA)
B. Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) ✅
C. National Biodiversity Authority (NBA)
D. Ministry of Jal Shakti
5. Consider the following functions of Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs):
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Removal of faecal coliform from wastewater
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Conversion of industrial waste to organic manure
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Ensuring that treated water meets discharge standards
Which of the above is/are correct?
A. 1 and 3 only ✅
B. 1 and 2 only
C. 2 and 3 only
D. 1, 2 and 3
