Varanasi fares better than Lucknow on pollution index

Despite being more densely populated than Lucknow, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s constituency Varanasi fares much better than the State capital on the pollution index, says a CAG report which was tabled in Vidhan Sabha on Thursday.

In its report for 2015-16 titled ‘A Tale of Two Cities’, the Central watchdog body has blamed the UP Pollution Control Board in general for poor water quality of major rivers. The multi crore makeover of Gomti river undertaken during the Samajwadi Party government has failed to make any difference in its quality of water. On the contrary, the quality of river water has deteriorated over the year and not fit for drinking or bathing at some places, points out the report and blames Lucknow Nagar Nigam for not discharging its duties.

“The water quality of major rivers and water bodies in Uttar Pradesh is not as per the norms and the main reason for this is inadequate sewage and industrial effluent treatment facilities in the state,” says the report. The malfunctioning of existing sewage treatment facilities was also responsible for the poor quality of water.

While the water quality of the Ganga has improved that of the Gomti has worsened over the years from 2011. Lucknow generated 675 million litres per day (MLD) of sewage. It’s two Sewage Treatment Plants (STP), however, had a total capacity to treat only 401 MLD. As such 274 MLD of untreated sewage was being drained into Gomti directly, the report pointed out.

“The quality of water was of the worst category ‘E’ downstream of the river and was not fit for drinking or bathing,” it said adding that UPPCB failed in its duty to take action against LNN under section 41 (2) of the Water Act, which provides for imprisonment and fine.

The CAG report said water quality of major rivers and water bodies in Uttar Pradesh was not as per the norms. UPPCB monitors the pollution level in rivers and water bodies of the state by collecting samples once every month and the audit analysed the reports of 12 major rivers and six water bodies.

The BOD (bio-chemical oxygen demand) level and total coliform (which included bacteria that are found in the soil in water that has been influenced by surface water and in human or animal waste) are above the prescribed standard in 12 major rivers and six water bodies for the years 2013-15, the report said.

The BOD and total coliform levels in the Kali and the Hindon exceeded the permissible limits, the report said adding that major source of pollution in the Ganga was discharge of untreated or partially treated sewage, open drains carrying sewage and industrial waste.