Patna’s Mega-STP: The 400-Million-Litre Shield for the Ganga

Bihar is set to construct its largest sewage treatment plant (STP) — a 400 million litres per day (MLD) facility — in Patna as part of efforts to prevent untreated wastewater from entering the Ganga.

Following a review meeting of the Namami Gange in Delhi, the state’s urban development and housing department directed the Bihar Urban Infrastructure Development Corporation (BUIDCO) to initiate the project.

Patna Divisional Commissioner and BUIDCO Managing Director Animesh Kumar Parashar said the objective is to ensure that all city drains are tapped to stop contaminated water from flowing untreated into the river. The plan involves intercepting existing drains and diverting sewage to the STP, where it will be treated before being discharged into the Ganga.

According to BUIDCO PRO Sweta Bhasker, surveys have been conducted from Digha to Didarganj, with potential sites identified between Danapur and Patna City. The final location will be decided after approval from higher authorities. Depending on the final design, the facility may operate either as a single 400 MLD unit or as two units of 200 MLD each.

The proposed system will connect drains in areas such as Digha, Kurji, Rajapur, Mandiri, Anta Ghat, and Mittan Ghat through an interception-and-diversion mechanism. Officials said the strategy seeks to minimise public disruption by using existing drainage channels and avoiding fresh excavation in narrow streets.

Bihar currently operates 39 STPs with a total investment of ₹7,752 crore and plans to expand the number to 45, targeting treatment of nearly 1,100 MLD of sewage generated in towns along the Ganga. Of these, 21 plants are operational in districts including Munger, Bhagalpur, Chhapra, and Patna. The capital has four fully functional plants in Beur, Saidpur, Karmalichak, and Pahadi, while facilities in Digha and Kankarbagh are partially operational.

Thirteen additional STPs are under construction in districts such as Motihari, Supaul, Jamui, and Rohtas, and are expected to be completed within two years. Five more projects in Buxar, Muzaffarpur, Katihar, Arrah, and Lakhisarai are currently at the tendering stage.

Officials noted that construction and commissioning of such facilities typically take around three years. In addition to the proposed 400 MLD plant in Patna, five more STPs are being processed in Khagaria, Jamalpur, Barauni, Samastipur, and Gaya. The urban development and housing department has prioritised tapping all major drains to curb untreated discharge into the Ganga and strengthen wastewater management infrastructure across the state.

News by Rahul Yelligetti.