Affidavit filed by the Bihar State Pollution Control Board regarding quality of Ganga water in the state, 17/03/2025
Counter affidavit on behalf of Bihar State Pollution Control Board in the matter of news item titled "Ganga water unsafe even for bathing says Bihar government on river pollution" appearing in Hindustan Times, February 26, 2024. As per the news item, almost all major rivers passing through Bihar are unsafe even for bathing and the information is on the basis of the annual survey report on health of rivers tabled by the Bihar State Pollution Control Board (BSPCB).
The BSPCB is regularly carrying out water samples analysis at 34 sites of river Ganga and from the result of such analysis it appears that pH; dissolved oxygen level; biochemical oxygen demand level of the water at the 34 sites are conforming to the standards as laid down by MoEF&CC, stated the affidavit filed by the state PCB. However, the parameters with respect to total coliform and faecal coliform are found beyond the standards.
The total coliform and faecal coliform is beyond the prescribed standards as the "household sewage generated in the concerned urban areas is being discharged into river Ganga without any prior treatment". Sewage treatment plants (STP) is being constructed in different cities in Bihar and 4 STPs in Patna; 1 in Barh; 1 in Munger; 1 in Sonpur; 1 in Sultanganj; 1 in Maner; 1 in Navgachiya; 1 in Chapra; 1 in Danapur and 1 in Phulwari Sharif have already been constructed.
The state of Bihar through the Urban Development and Housing Department and the Bihar Urban Infrastructure Development Corporation (BUIDCO) is constructing STPs in different cities in Bihar. Upon commissioning of the STPs the water quality of the river Ganga and its tributaries will improve. In the meantime, bioremediation is being done to treat the untreated wastewater.