The wastewater discharge data of the two main agencies, Central Pollution Control Board and UP Jal Nigam, responsible for keeping an eye on pollution in the Ganga shows massive variation.CPCB data says that 806.16 MLD sewage was discharged into the Ganga in 2018, while UPJN claimed that the discharge was only 309.8 MLD.The wastewater discharge data of CPCB is more than 250% of that of Jal Nigam and the variation is puzzling.If CPCB data is believed to be correct, the city falls far short of treating its sewage as the total capacity of sewage treatment plants (STPs) is only 412 MLD.CPCB monitored the sewage discharge of identified and priority drains in the 2018 pre-monsoon period.The drains include Nagwa/Asi, Ramnagar, Varuna and Khirkiya/Rajghat nullah. While Nagwa/Asi and Khirkiya/Rajghat drains, which carry domestic sewage, discharged 198 MLD and 25.57 MLD, respectively, the Ramnagar and Varuna drains, which have mixed source of sewage, discharged 11.29 MLD and 571.30 MLD, respectively. These drains collectively discharged 806.16 MLD sewage into the Ganga. Another drain in Shivala area had been tapped.A previous CPCB report of post-monsoon period (October-December) in 2016 says that these drains had discharged a total of 926.10 MLD sewage. As per both CPCB reports, there was reduction of 119.94 MLD sewage in 2018 in comparison to 2016.On the other hand, according to UPJN status report of sewage treatment plant under River Action Plan, 309.8 MLD sewage was discharged through 27 drains.Interestingly, the UPJN report, which was last updated on February 23, lacks updated figures. It uses the city’s population of 2005 and mentions only three STPs, while two more plants have already started functioning.“The city generates 300 MLD sewage only. It is surprising how CPCB recorded 806.16 MLD discharge,” general manager of Ganga Pollution Control unit of UPJN, S K Rai told TOI. According to him, 80% of supplied water turns into wastewater. “It is a simple rule to estimate the volume of wastewater,” he added.“The data of sewage generation is provided to the Pollution Control Board by UP Jal Nigam,” said AN Singh, assistant engineer, regional office of UP Pollution Control Board.

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