Private firm operating Tapovan STP blacklisted after failing to improve functioning: NMCG

New Delhi, Jul 7 (PTI) The National Mission for Clean Ganga on Tuesday said strict action, including contract termination and blacklisting, has been taken against the private firm operating the Tapovan sewage treatment plant in Rishikesh after it failed to rectify deficiencies despite repeated warnings. The action follows several videos shared on social media recently, alleging that extremely dirty water from the 3.5 MLD sewage treatment plant (STP) was flowing into the river Ganga. "You highlighted it, we fixed it. This is the dialogue that serves as the greatest guarantee for a pristine Ganga. Wherever there is a lapse, accountability will be ensured right there. This resolve towards Maa Ganga remains unwavering," the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) said in a post on X. The mission said the contract has been terminated after the videos were widely circulated, and rectification work is now underway on a war footing. "The new firm has completed full silt removal from the primary treatment unit, cleaning of both sequencing batch reactor (SBR) tanks, revival of the treatment process through biomass and enzyme dosing, activation of the chlorination unit and deployment of an experienced engineer 24×7," it further said. The mission added that from Tuesday, treated water from Tapovan is once again being discharged into the river in compliance with the prescribed standards. Thanking vigilant citizens for bringing the matter to light, the NMCG said the purity of "Maa Ganga" is a shared responsibility. "It is not just the responsibility of the administration -- it is a shared heritage of every individual, and when society's gaze is so sharp, the system becomes even more accountable. Your vigilance is our strength," it added. The NMCG said the STP has been treating sewage as per prescribed standards for years, and the problem lay not with the plant but with the contractor responsible for its operation. It said officials of the State Clean Ganga Mission detected the lapses during a surprise inspection in February 2026, issued more than a dozen notices, imposed a fine of Rs 6.16 lakh and gave the firm 30 days to make all equipment operational. "When the firm failed to make improvements, the consequences were clear. On July 2, 2026, the contract was terminated with immediate effect, the firm was blacklisted for two years, and the security deposit was forfeited," it said. The NMCG also sought to clear the air over videos showing silt-mixed water flowing near the STP last week. It said cleaning work was underway on the premises when the videos surfaced on July 3, and instructions were immediately issued to remove the silt and ensure its disposal as per regulations. "As part of this process, silt extracted from the grit chamber and C-Tech tanks had been collected within the premises. During this time, rainwater mixed with that silt, and the silt-mixed water seeped out and flowed beyond the boundary. "What was seen in the footage was exactly this. It was an incidental occurrence during the cleaning work, not a discharge of untreated sewage from the plant. The plant is operating normally as per its treatment process," the NMCG said. Lauding the vigilant citizens, the NMCG said their watchful eye on every development connected to "Maa Ganga" and transparent answers to every question are the foundation of the dialogue for a pristine Ganga. PTI ADI PRK