CAG flags ‘gaps’ in Namami Gange implementation in U’khand

Dehradun: A performance audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) has flagged several shortcomings in the implementation of the Namami Gange Programme in Uttarakhand between 2018 and 2023. The report, titled ‘Performance Audit of Implementation of the Namami Gange Programme by Uttarakhand', found that the State Ganga Committee and the State Mission for Clean Ganga "did not to effectively plan and implement sewage treatment infrastructure in collaboration with local communities".According to the report, the state govt "did not contribute funds from its own resources to improve sewerage infrastructure in Ganga-front towns. As a result, many sewage treatment plants (STPs) remain either unconnected to household sewer networks or only partially connected".The audit also noted that several existing STPs "lack sufficient treatment capacity, resulting in the discharge of significant quantities of untreated sewage into the river". It further pointed out that Uttarakhand Jal Sansthan "declined" to take over 18 STPs because of deficiencies in their construction and operation. Proper management of sewage sludge was also neglected. The report observed that the State Ganga Committee "did not to conduct timely safety audits of STPs, which led to avoidable loss of human lives and damage to assets created under the programme". Despite these shortcomings, the report noted that water quality of the Ganga River at Haridwar remained consistently in the ‘B' category during the audit period, indicating water suitable for outdoor bathing but still requiring improved pollution control measures.Auditors also flagged deviations during the tendering process. "The implementing agency relaxed the stringent tertiary treatment standards established by Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee. The faecal coliform limit of 0 MPN per 100 ml was relaxed to 100 MPN per 100 ml, the desirable limit as per norms of the National Green Tribunal," the report said. However, the administrative approval and expenditure sanction (AA&ES) issued by the National Mission for Clean Ganga required that "all conditions recommended by IIT Roorkee in its appraisal report be strictly followed by the state govt and the Uttarakhand Pey Jal Nigam".Under the section titled construction of ‘symbolic' STPs not connected with households, the audit found that "21 STPs constructed in seven towns were not connected to any households, rendering them symbolic in nature". These towns include Nandprayag, Karnaprayag, Rudraprayag, Kirtinagar, Chamoli, Srinagar and Srikot.Solid waste management in Ganga-front towns was also flagged as a concern. During joint inspections of facilities and dumping grounds in 10 hill towns, auditors found that waste was being "indiscriminately" dumped on river slopes or disposed of by burning. "As a result, solid waste either ended up as ashes or remained at risk of being washed into the river during rainfall," the report noted.The report also highlighted that the Ganga originates as the Bhagirathi River from the Gangotri Glacier at Gomukh in Uttarakhand and becomes the Ganga after meeting the Alaknanda River at Devprayag. Sixteen major towns in the Garhwal region, known as Ganga-front towns, are located along the river or its tributaries. While the river flows for only about 294 km in Uttarakhand, from Gomukh to Haridwar, its total length exceeds 2,525 km.Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with EId ul fitr 2026 wishes, messages and quotes !