The sewage treatment plant (STP) located at Badgai in Ranchi is currently processing approximately 7-8 million litres per day (MLD) against its installed capacity of 37 MLD, according to officials. The sludge generated during the treatment process is being repurposed as manure by local farmers, providing an additional benefit to the community.
Plant Operation and Sludge Reuse
A plant official, speaking on condition of anonymity, stated, "The plant has been operating efficiently, and the treatment process ensures that the discharged water meets environmental standards. The reuse of sludge in agriculture is also proving to be beneficial for the soil and crops." This practice not only reduces waste but also supports sustainable farming practices in the region.
Phase-1 Sewerage Project Progress
The phase-1 of the sewerage and drainage zone-1 project undertaken by the Ranchi Municipal Corporation (RMC) aims to connect households from wards 1 to 5 and 30 to 33 to the sewer network. Currently, over 4,000 houses in wards 4 and 5 have been successfully connected. However, nearly 40,000 households across nine wards are yet to be linked to the system. Officials believe that the system will stabilize further once all planned household connections are completed in the coming months.
Challenges with Illegal Connections
Illegal household connections to sewer lines are emerging as a major hurdle for the project. Many residents are directly connecting their household drains to manholes and inspection chambers without proper authorization. This practice has led to frequent overflows and waterlogging in several areas. In an official notice issued on Tuesday, RMC warned residents against such unauthorized connections. The notice stated, "It has been observed that without permission, household drainage is being connected to manholes and inspection chambers, causing overflow and waterlogging. Residents are requested not to make such connections, failing which legal action will be taken."
Executive engineer Sanjeev Kumar commented, "The network is still under expansion. Unauthorised connections are leading to overflow from chambers and waterlogging in several areas, creating inconvenience for the public. We urge residents to cooperate and follow the proper procedures for sewer connections."
