Patna: The Bihar government has approved a 945.45 crore project for the construction of sewerage treatment plants (STPs) and sewerage networks in 10 cities situated on the banks of tributary rivers that feed into the Ganga. This initiative aims to reduce the pollution levels in the Ganga, which have been aggravated by the untreated sewage flowing from these rivers. The project has been approved by the Urban Development and Housing Department.
The cities identified for the first phase of the project include Dawood Nagar, Motihari, Jamui, Supaul, Ramnagar, Narkatiaganj, Lakhisarai, and Raxaul. The work will involve the construction of Interception and Diversion (I&D) systems to prevent the direct discharge of untreated sewage into the rivers. Instead, the sewage will be diverted, cleaned, and then sent to the newly constructed STPs for treatment. A new pipeline network will also be built to carry the untreated sewage to these plants. The project is expected to be completed within two years.
In Patna, where significant progress has already been made, construction is underway on six STPs, with four already completed. Additionally, work on two other major sewerage projects—Digha Sewerage Network and STP, and Kankarbagh Sewerage Network and STP—is ongoing. The Digha STP is 48% complete, and the Kankarbagh STP is about 46% complete. A total of 11 schemes are being implemented in Patna, covering a 1,165.55 km sewerage network and a 350 MLD capacity STP.
The total cost for sewerage treatment plants across the state will be around ₹7,500 crore. Initially, cities on the banks of the Ganga were included in the project, but now cities along tributary rivers are being incorporated as well, marking a significant step towards cleaner rivers and a healthier environment.
