Work begins on tapping 14 drains in Kanpur under Namami Gange project

New Delhi, Jul 16 (PTI) The National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) on Thursday said work has begun on tapping 14 drains in Kanpur under the Namami Gange programme to prevent untreated wastewater from flowing into the Ganga and the Pandu river. The project, being implemented at a cost of Rs 133 crore, will connect all 14 drains to sewage treatment plants (STPs) within the next 18 months, ensuring that wastewater is scientifically treated before being discharged or reused. According to the NMCG, wastewater from nine drains currently flows into the Ganga, while five drains discharge into the Pandu river. Kanpur Waterworks General Manager Anand Tripathi said bioremediation is currently being used as a temporary measure to reduce the pollution load from these drains, but a permanent solution is now being implemented through the project. "This project is being implemented under the Government of India's Namami Gange programme by the Jal Nigam (Rural). It covers a total of 14 drains, of which nine discharge into the Ganga and five into the Pandu river. "The project involves tapping these drains and carrying out their interception and diversion so that the sewage is conveyed to sewage treatment plants (STPs) for treatment. Jal Nigam (Rural) has begun work on the project," he said in a video statement posted by the NMCG on X. "Once the project is completed, the direct discharge of wastewater from these drains into the rivers will be completely stopped. "At present, the Kanpur Municipal Corporation is carrying out bioremediation in these 14 drains to reduce the pollution load. The new project has been launched to provide a permanent solution to the problem. It is expected to be completed in about one-and-a-half years, and according to Jal Nigam (Rural), the work is progressing well," he added. The NMCG said the project is expected to significantly reduce pollution in both the Ganga and the Pandu river while strengthening Kanpur's urban wastewater management system. "The initiative under the Namami Gange programme represents a major step forward for Kanpur, advancing both river conservation and sustainable urban wastewater management," the NMCG said in a post on X. PTI ADI NB NB