Rishikesh (Uttarakhand), June 26: In a significant stride toward river conservation, Rishikesh and the nearby Muni Ki Reti are witnessing notable environmental transformation under the Namami Gange Mission, with modern Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) at the core of efforts to reduce pollution in the sacred River Ganga.
Two major STPs have been constructed to manage Rishikesh’s average 20 MLD (million litres per day) sewage load: a 26 MLD plant at Lakkadghat and a 7.5 MLD plant at Chandrabhaga. These facilities are ensuring cleaner discharge into the river, playing a key role in the region’s ecological revival.
The Lakkadghat STP, operational since 2020, uses Sequential Batch Reactor (SBR) technology to treat wastewater from six major city drains. The system’s flexibility allows it to handle varying loads while maintaining consistent water quality.
“This plant has been under continuous operation since 2020. The SBR technology allows us to build as many treatment tanks as needed. Here, we have four,” said Vineet Beniwal, Plant In-Charge at Lakkadghat.
In Muni Ki Reti, the 5 MLD Chorpani STP, equipped with Moving Bed Biofilm Reactor (MBBR) technology, treats local wastewater to standards set by the NGT and CPCB before discharging it into the Chandrabhaga River, a tributary of the Ganga.
“We have a fully functional lab and sensor-based monitoring system to verify the treated water’s quality in real-time,” said Varun Kumar, in charge of the Chorpani plant.
What sets these STPs apart is their automated real-time monitoring, with water quality data being uploaded to centralized dashboards, accessible to both central and state authorities for transparent oversight.
Experts say these facilities represent a paradigm shift in India’s river conservation approach, particularly in religious and tourist hubs like Rishikesh.
With over 25 MLD of sewage treated daily—exceeding current demand—Rishikesh is poised to become a model city for Ganga rejuvenation.
As the Namami Gange Mission gains traction, the dream of a clean, uninterrupted, and spiritually vibrant Ganga is becoming a reality—blending science with sacred tradition for generations to come.