The Namami Gange Programme, launched in 2014 as an Integrated Conservation Mission, focuses on pollution abatement and rejuvenation of the National River Ganga through diverse wastewater treatment technologies and infrastructure development. The programme has undertaken 219 projects worth ₹35,664 crore, with 147 projects completed across 10 Ganga basin states, developing 6,603 MLD of sewage treatment plant capacity of which 4,341 MLD has been created.
Technological Approaches
The programme follows a technology-neutral approach, employing multiple treatment processes including Conventional Activated Sludge Process, Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket, Sequential Batch Reactor, Moving Bed Biofilm Reactor, Fluidized Aerated Bed, and Food Chain Reactor. Five operational Food Chain Reactor-based STPs are recorded: two at Bhatpara, West Bengal and three at Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, with another under construction at Bhagalpur, Bihar requiring approximately 175 square metres per MLD.
Electrocoagulation technology has been implemented in Uttarakhand with 17 installations, including a 0.05 MLD STP at Police Chowki, 1.19 MLD plant at Vivekanand Colony, and 1.25 MLD plant at Pokhari Bend. The multi-storey sewage treatment plant at Muni Ki Reti, Chandreshwar Nagar is India's first four-storey STP for a municipality, occupying approximately 900 square metres for 7.5 MLD capacity with land requirement of 120 square metres per MLD.
Decentralized and Nature-Based Solutions
Constructed wetlands were developed at Bithoor, Uttar Pradesh, treating approximately 2 MLD and reducing Biochemical Oxygen Demand from 75 mg/l to below 10 mg/l. Johkasou packaged treatment systems have been used at multiple locations in Uttarakhand with six installations, providing prefabricated, plug-and-play units for low-flow applications.
NEREDA biological wastewater treatment technology offers 50% power savings compared to Activated Sludge Process and 20% compared to Sequential Batch Reactor. A 60 MLD NEREDA-based STP at Pahadi Patna occupies 1,900 square metres compared to 5,400 square metres for SBR requirements.
Energy Recovery and Sustainability
Energy recovery initiatives include biogas generation at multiple STPs: Varanasi's 140 MLD Dinapur STP generates 2,20,000–3,00,000 units monthly (52-72% of consumption), Prayagraj's 80 MLD Naini STP achieves 50% of daily power consumption from biogas, with additional projects at Jajmau, Kanpur and Bhagalpur. Solar power integration includes a 1,000 KW plant at 42 MLD Naini STP generating 3,850 units daily, and a proposed 10 MW offsite solar plant for Meerut's 220 MLD STP.
Sludge management includes dewatering using Volute Press technology and a sludge incineration pilot at Rishikesh for thermal stabilization and volume reduction, drying sludge from 20% to 90% solids content.
Rehabilitation and Operational Models
The programme includes rehabilitation of existing infrastructure, with examples including 80 MLD Naini STP in Prayagraj and 130 MLD Jajmau STP in Kanpur receiving electro-mechanical works and upgrades. Trunk sewer rehabilitation covers 7 km in Varanasi and 9.3 km in Kanpur using advanced lining technologies.
The Hybrid Annuity Model-based Public-Private Partnership covers 31 projects covering 1,955 MLD, with 11 projects (454 MLD) completed and 6 projects (235 MLD) in advanced completion stage, combining construction-linked payments with 15-year performance-linked payments to ensure sustained operation and accountability.