Varanasi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi may inaugurate the 55 MLD capacity Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) at Bhagwanpur during his visit to his parliamentary constituency on April 28. The PM had laid the foundation of this project in March 2023.Varanasi has hit a key milestone in cleaning the Ganga river. Wastewater from the Assi river and sewage from Nakkha Nala — both flowing into the river for years — have been tapped, stopping the polluted discharge into the Ganga.The 55 MLD capacity Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) located at Bhagwanpur has become operational. Through this project, approximately 33 MLD of sewage falling into the river has been intercepted. This has reduced the pollution level of the Ganga river, and a continuous improvement in the quality of Ganga water in Kashi is being observed.Ashish Kumar Singh, project manager of Ganga Pollution Control Unit, Varanasi, said Rs 308 crore has been spent on this project. Under the scheme, the provisions include interceptor and diversion work for polluted water flowing into the Ganga through the Assi river and Nakkha Nala, a 55 MLD capacity STP, a 50 MLD main pumping station, a five MLD sewage pumping station, 3.51 kilometers of rising main, 1.35 kilometers of treated effluent pipeline, and operation and maintenance provision for 15 years.He said more STPs have steadily improved Ganga water quality. BOD levels, which were six to 10 in 2017, have dropped to three to six in 2026 — a clear sign of reduced pollution.
