VARANASI: Varanasi district magistrate Kaushal Raj Sharma has recommended action against officials of a sewage treatment plant (STP) at Vindhyachal in Mirzapur district as discharge from the facility has been found responsible for algal bloom in the Ganga in Varanasi after an investigation.
A five-member team, constituted by the DM to examine the reasons behind the surge of algae in the Ganga, submitted its report to him on Friday after an extensive survey conducted for three days from Varanasi to Mirzapur.
“During the survey, the team found that the algae flowed into the Ganga with the STP’s treated effluent through Basvariya drain.
The algae later grew further in the Ganga,” the DM said on Saturday.
According to the investigation report, the 4-MLD capacity STP is based on conventional system.
It seems that the algal bloom originated from the STP at Vindhyachal.
The flow of water is minimum and the temperature is also conducive for the growth of algae in the river.
Besides, nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus, urea and DAP coming from farm fields through drains significantly help growth of the algae.
The untreated wastewater from Mirzapur and Chunar also contribute to the algal bloom.
The team in its report recommended modernization of Vindhyachal STP and that necessary instruction be given to the STP authorities for its proper maintenance.
It was also recommended that all the STPs along the Ganga should be maintained properly and all the drains including Nagwa/Assi, Khidkiya Ghat and Samne Ghat in Varanasi should be tapped completely.
The generated sewage should be treated at Ramna STP (50MLD) and Ramnagar STP (10 MLD).
The construction of a new STP in Mirzapur, maintaining flow in the river and conducting a study on the impact of algae on aquatic life by the experts of Banaras Hindu University (BHU) was also recommended.
The algae first appeared around 20 days ago, which was first examined by the officials of the Pollution Control Board.
Later, the DM had constituted the team comprising additional city magistrate (II), regional officer of UP Pollution Control Board, assistant commissioner of police (Dashashwamedh), executive engineer of Bandhi Prakhand and general manager of Ganga Pollution Control Unit to look into the matter and submit a detailed report.