CAG finds 18 STPs not taken over in Uttarakhand's Namami Gange audit

Who it concerns: Government of Uttarakhand, specifically the State Mission for Clean Ganga, Uttarakhand Peyjal Nigam, Irrigation Department, Forest Department, and Uttarakhand Jal Sansthan.

What the auditor found

• 18 Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) were not taken over by the maintenance agency (Uttarakhand Jal Sansthan) due to operational and safety issues.
• Untreated sewage was discharged into the Ganga, including instances where an O&M contractor willfully discharged untreated sewage.
• Forestry interventions showed minimal progress, with only 16 percent of planned expenditure implemented.
• Crematoria constructed under the scheme remained largely unutilized due to lack of demand analysis and public awareness.
• Solid waste was primarily dumped on river slopes or burned rather than properly processed, leading to it flowing back into the river.
• Water quality in Rishikesh remained in 'B' category from 2019 to 2023, while water quality up to Devprayag was 'A' category.
• Recommendations include conducting comprehensive safety audits of STPs, financing sewer networking works, and enhancing public awareness for crematoria use.

Also in the document

• CAG found that the State Government did not contribute from its own resources to improve sewerage facilities in Ganga Front Towns, resulting in many STPs being unconnected or only partially connected to households.
• CAG reported that the State Ganga Committee did not conduct timely safety audits of STPs, which resulted in avoidable loss of human lives and Namami Gange assets.
• CAG noted that most STPs did not comply with the norms of the National Green Tribunal or the Government of India regarding sewage treatment quality.