"Prayagraj Set to Receive 3 New Sewage Treatment Plants"

As Prayagraj prepares for the Maha Kumbh in 2025, addressing the city's sewage and sanitation challenges has become a top priority. Of the 81 drains that flow into the Ganga and Yamuna rivers, 39 remain untapped, posing a significant hurdle to maintaining cleanliness during the mega event scheduled from January 14 to February 26.

In response, the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG), the central agency overseeing the Ganga rejuvenation plan, has approved three new sewage treatment plant (STP) projects for the city. With a combined estimated cost of Rs. 987 crore, these STPs aim to significantly boost Prayagraj's sewage treatment capacity. The NMCG is also collaborating with local authorities to intercept and divert the untapped drains, ensuring cleaner rivers for the millions of pilgrims expected to attend the event.

Currently, Prayagraj's sewage treatment capacity is 340 million litres per day (MLD), while the city's sewage generation is around 500 MLD. This results in 160 MLD of untreated sewage being discharged into the Ganga and Yamuna. The three new STPs, to be built in Salori (43 MLD, Rs 325 crore), Rasoolabad (90 MLD, Rs 476 crore), and Naini (50 MLD, Rs 186 crore), will increase the city's total sewage treatment capacity to 523 MLD.

Additionally, the NMCG's executive committee, led by Director General Rajeev Kumar Mital, has sanctioned a remediation plan for 22 untapped drains during the Maha Kumbh period at a cost of over Rs 55 crore. The remaining 17 drains will be managed by local authorities using the Maha Kumbh 2025 budget.

To further ensure cleanliness, the NMCG, through its 'Namami Gange' programme, has developed a detailed sanitation plan. This includes the deployment of 1.5 lakh community toilets, 20,000 urinals, prefabricated steel toilets, and solid waste bins across the city. Additionally, five ghats and two crematoria have been constructed to support sanitation efforts during the event. Remote sensing and GIS technologies are also being utilized to assess the impact of the temporary population on sewerage infrastructure and river water quality during the Maha Kumbh.

ET