Uttarakhand orders probe into reports about Namami Gange project

The state government has asked officials to probe reports suggesting that sewage in Uttarkashi, Devprayag, Rishikesh and Haridwar flows into the Ganga despite officials claiming that capping of sewerage lines has been done in the riparian towns under the Namami Gange project.

“There were media reports that the sewage from different towns is flowing into the Ganga despite capping of sewerage lines. We have asked the authorities concerned to get the issue thoroughly examined and submit a report,” water resource minister Prakash Pant told HT on Monday.

He sought to clarify that the impression about the sewage flowing into the Ganga has gained ground owing to the Namami Gange project being in the process of implementation in the state.

“The sewerage lines have been capped… The impression that the sewage is flowing into the Ganga has gained ground because two other related systems are yet to be set up,” Pant said referring to the Effluent Treatment Plants and Sewage Treatment Plants.

“Once the ETPs and STPs are ready the water from the sewerage lines will flow into the device and get recycled,” he said, adding that the process of floating tenders for setting up the ETPs and STPs was on.

“These devices are supposed to be completed by March 2019,” he said.

He said he has been directly monitoring the works being undertaken under the Namami Gange project.

“I started monitoring the project so that its implementation is speeded up,” he said when asked if he started supervising it owing to the reported irregularities in its implementation.

“The process of setting up the ETPs and STP’s is a time taking process owing to the complex technicalities involved,” Pant further said, claiming that the problem of sewage flowing into the Ganga would be taken care of by March 2019.

“I have been conducting spot inspections of the works relating to the Namami Gange project,” he said, adding that he recently visited Haridwar and Srinagar.

“I will soon visit Uttarkashi to conduct a spot inspection of the works being taken up there.”

Pant said there has been 40% to 60% physical progress relating to the implementation of the high profile Namami Gange project. “That is why we are hopeful that we will be able to meet the (March 2019) deadline for completion of the (centrally funded) Namami Gange project,” he said.