Dehradun: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday virtually inaugurated six major and two upgraded projects for Haridwar, Rishikesh and Badrinath under the Namami Gange Mission. These eight STPs have been built under the Namami Gange Mission at a cost of Rs 521 crore in Uttarakhand. After the inauguration of these projects, the sewage treatment capacity in Uttarakhand will increase by almost three and a half times to 215.5 million litres per day (MLD) as compared to 61.5 MLD in 2014. It is hoped that these projects would play a big role in improving the quality of Ganga water.
These projects include the 68 MLD capacity STP at Jagjitpur in Haridwar, which has been built at a cost of Rs 230.32 crore, upgradation of STP of 27 MLD costing Rs 19.65 crore and one new STP at Sarai, which has cost Rs 12.99 crore and has the capacity of 18 MLD. The earlier capacity of Jagjitpur plant was 27 MLD and that of Sarai 18 MLD. These two plants have been upgraded. These treatment plants will help in keeping the Ganga River lean. These plants will also ensure smooth treatment of sewage in the city. Apart from these projects, Prime Minister Modi also inaugurated the newly constructed Ganga Observatory Centre and the riverfront developed at Chandi Ghat in Haridwar.
Automode STP
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also gifted Rs 238 crore worth sewer treatment schemes to the holy city of Rishikesh. Prime Minister Modi inaugurated 26 MLD capacity STP worth Rs 158 crore at Lakkadghat, 7.5 MLD STP at Chandreshwar Nagar, which has been constructed at the cost of Rs 41.13 crore and five MLD sewage treatment plant at Chorpani near Muni Ki Reti. It is worth noting that the STP at Lakkadghat is the second such plant in the country, which will be fully operated in auto mode. The treated water from the plant can be used for irrigation. Such a plant was earlier started in Haridwar.
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Multi-story STP
The 7.5 MLD capacity multipurpose sewage treatment plant at Chandreshwar Nagar of Rishikesh has been built by the Drinking Water Corporation under the Namami Gange Mission. This STP, built at a cost of Rs 41.12 crore, will treat the contaminated water of Chandrashwar Nullah, Dhalwala Nullah and the water coming from the crematorium. The treated water from the STP will also be used for irrigation purposes. Thanks to the construction of this plant, there will be a large drain tape coming out of Chandreshwar Nagar. Prime Minister Modi specifically mentioned this STP in his address and said that this STP is the first of its STP in the country, which is a four-storey treatment plant and has a height of 21 meters.
Plant near Badrinath Temple
Under the Namami Gange Mission, an STP of one MLD capacity has been constructed at Badrinath Dham near the bridge and another one of 0.01 MLD plant near Badrinath Temple at a cost of Rs 18.23 crore. With the inauguration of these STPs, the years-old problem of sewerage in Badrinath Dham has been addressed. In order to make the river Ganga clean right from the point of its origin, sewer drains have been taped by making a sewerage treatment plant at Badrinath and the water is being released into the river only after it is treated at the STP.
Features of Sewer Treatment Plant
These STPs are eco-friendly and the water released will be very neat and clean. The treated water can also be used for irrigation purposes. The screen fitted in the plant will tell about the quality of water being treated. Since these plants are fully computerized, officers sitting in Delhi will also be able to monitor the water quality. The company will maintain and operate the plant for the next 15 years.
What did the Prime Minister say?
In his speech, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that better work is being done in Uttarakhand under Namami Gange Mission and Jal Jeevan Mission. Most of the projects are close to their completion. He said that the capacity of sewerage treatment in Uttarakhand has increased up to four times. He also said that from the Yamunotri-Gangotri to Haridwar, about 130 drains used to flow directly into the Ganga, which are closed now.
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Prime Minister Modi said that the Central government has taken forward development works in all directions simultaneously. The first task: In order to prevent the flow of dirty water into the Ganga, we made a number of sewage treatment plants. The second task: Build sewage treatment plants that can meet the needs of the next 10-15 years. The third task: Making hundreds of cities open defecation free along with five thousand villages on the banks of river Ganga. The fourth task: Made all possible efforts to stop the pollution of Ganga River’s tributaries.
Prime Minister Modi also mentioned the dolphin mission that started on August 15. He said the work of cleaning the Ganga from mountain to field is going on at a fast pace, which will make the dolphin mission successful. At the same time, he said that till now different schemes were made with different water-related ministries. However, for want of coordination, these schemes could not prove to be effective at the ground. Now the impact of a united Jal Shakti Ministry is visible on the ground.
On this occasion, Prime Minister Modi also praised Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat. He said the water connection is being given in Uttarakhand for one rupee. In the last four and five months, more than 50 thousand water connections have been given despite having the lockdown. He said that his goal will be fulfilled by 2022.
PM Modi appealed all to run – Water From Tap -- campaign under the Jal Jeevan Mission for 100 days in all primary schools, basic schools and Anganwadi centres. He said that under this campaign, it is our goal to provide drinking water in all schools.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat, while sharing details about all the schemes operated under the Namami Gange Mission on the occasion, said that in all 135 contaminated in the state were flowing into the Ganga, out of which 128 have been taped and seven other drains are to be taped. The Chief Minister assured the Prime Minister that these drains will also be taped by the time the Maha Kumbh approaches.
PM mentions Maha Kumbh
Prime Minister Modi said that he hopes that just as crores of devotees paid obeisance to the Ganga during the Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj, similarly in 2021 Maha Kumbh, crores of devotees will come to seek the blessings of Mother Ganga, for which Haridwar is fully prepared. Referring to the riverfront museum and all the schemes in Haridwar, he said that the attraction of the Ganga Museum will further increase.
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Takes a dig at Opposition
Counting the achievements of the Central and the State governments, Prime Minister Modi described the opposition to agriculture laws as the brainchild of the Congress. He said the Congress is working to trick farmers and is spreading confusion. The PM said that the Congress was earlier opposing the ‘One Rank-One Pension’ as well, but under this scheme, more than one lakh soldiers have been benefited in a State like Uttarakhand. Apart from this, the Congress was also opposing the Rafale deal, but today Rafale aircraft are thundering on the borders of the country. Congress was also questioning the surgical strike, but the soldiers of our country entered the enemy’s house and gave a befitting reply to them. At the same time, when the whole world was adopting yoga, Congress was opposing yoga in its own country. Prime Minister Modi also mentioned the Ram temple and said that the Congress was opposing the Ram temple first and later started opposing the Bhoomi Pujan. Thus, Congress has only spread negativity.
