Order of the National Green Tribunal in the matter of Anil Kumar Singh Vs Chief Secretary, Government of Jharkhand & Others dated 15/10/2020.

The case related to mitigation of pollution of Harmu river at Ranchi, Jharkhand due to discharge of untreated sewage and wastewater.

The Ranchi Municipal Corporation in its affidavit August 26, 2020 stated that works on as many as 9 sewage treatment plants (STPs) for treatment of sewage and waste water had been completed. As this was the most crucial factor for getting river Harmu free of pollution and cleaned, the NGT by order August 26, 2020 directed the Jharkhand State Pollution Control Board to furnish information as to whether the discharge norms of the STPs were being maintained in accordance with the prescribed standards and also to furnish a report in respect of the quality of water of the river.

Affidavit filed by the State PCB in compliance of the above direction indicated that all parameters were being maintained except for biological oxygen demand (BOD) which was on the higher side. However, there is no information with regard to the quality of water of Harmu river which presumably may have been due to the report against BOD standards.

The NGT directed the Jharkhand State Pollution Control Board to take up this matter with the Ranchi Municipal Corporation, monitor the performance of STPs to bring it within the prescribed standards of the parameters including BOD.