Three temporary and two permanent STPs to handle sludge treatment During Mahakumbh 2025

Mahakumbhnagar : To bring Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s vision of a ‘Swacch & Swasth’ Mahakumbh 2025 to life, the UP Jal Nigam (Urban) has intensified its efforts across Prayagraj. With an estimated 40 crore pilgrims expected to attend the grand spiritual event, the organization is ensuring an uninterrupted supply of drinking water and a robust sanitation system for the fair.

In a record-breaking initiative, 1,50,000 toilets are being constructed across the Mahakumbh area. To handle the significant amount of sludge generated, the Jal Nigam will employ a combination of three temporary treatment plants, permanent sewage treatment plants (STPs) at Naini and Jhunsi, and a fecal sludge treatment plant in Arail. Advanced infrastructure, including cesspool vehicles and pipelines, will support sludge treatment.

Additionally, the completion of the Alopi Pumping Station ensures that the increased load of Mahakumbh will not strain Prayagraj’s regular municipal services. Aligning with the Chief Minister’s goal, efforts are underway to make the Mahakumbh area completely Open Defecation Free (ODF), emphasizing a clean and safe environment for all devotees.

Saurabh Kumar, Executive Engineer of the Jal Nigam (Urban), shared that three temporary Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) have been set up in the Mahakumbh area with assistance from BARC for efficient sludge management. Sludge will be transported to these STPs using nine cesspool vehicles and a network of sewage pipelines. The department has deployed four vehicles with a capacity of 4,000 liters, three with 3,000 liters, and two with 1,000 liters to ensure regular sludge disposal across the fair area. Wastewater from other parts of the area will directly reach the STPs through pipelines.

To prevent the additional sludge load from impacting the city of Prayagraj, the Jal Nigam has expanded the capacity of the Alopi Pumping Station from 45 KLD to 80 KLD. Saurabh Kumar mentioned that this expansion is complete, and from December 10, after the completion of rising work, the station will operate at full capacity, including both its old and new sumps.

Additionally, CM Yogi is scheduled to visit Prayagraj on December 7, where he will inspect the fecal sludge treatment plant in Arail. This plant, operational since June, processes sludge from septic tanks in Naini, Mahewa, and nearby areas. The treated sludge is sent to the co-treatment plant in Jhunsi, where it is further processed to release treated water with a BOD level of 10 to 20, ensuring minimal environmental impact.