New Delhi, April 21 (IANS) The National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) added a cumulative treatment capacity of 538.03 MLD along the Ganga and its tributaries during 2025–26, said a Jal Shakti Ministry statement on Tuesday.​

The treatment capacity of 538.03 MLD was added through 18 projects across Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Jharkhand, West Bengal, and Bihar, it said.​

As many as 28 sewage treatment plants (STPs) were completed during the year, marking a significant increase compared to 22 STPs completed in the previous year, said the report.​

These projects represent a substantial investment of nearly Rs 4,700 crore, underscoring continued efforts to strengthen sewage treatment infrastructure and reduce pollution in the Ganga basin, it said.​

“The achievements during the year reflect a focused and sustained effort toward enhancing treatment capacity, completing key projects, and addressing critical pollution hotspots across multiple states,” said a statement.​

Uttar Pradesh emerged as a key contributor to these achievements, with multiple projects implemented across Moradabad, Shuklaganj, Varanasi, Vrindavan, Prayagraj, and Agra, significantly strengthening sewage treatment infrastructure in the state.​

Among these, the project in Varanasi, focused on the Assi–BHU area, added the highest capacity of 55 MLD. In Prayagraj, a major initiative involving the interception and diversion of 13 drains, along with the augmentation of the Salori STP, created an additional 43 MLD of capacity at a sanctioned cost of Rs 331.75 crore, said the statement.​

Moradabad also witnessed substantial progress with pollution abatement works for the Ramganga, contributing 25 MLD capacity, while Shuklaganj in Kanpur added 5 MLD through interception, diversion, and sewage treatment works, it said.​

A Ganga Pulse Public Portal has been developed by NMCG to strengthen the monitoring framework for STP infrastructure, ensuring transparency and accountability. The digital system is a monitoring platform that displays real-time data from STPs across the five Ganga basin states — Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, and West Bengal, the statement said.​

–IANS

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