Hindon River Choked: 888 Colonies Dump 40 MLD Sewage Daily

The Uttar Pradesh government has revealed that 888 unauthorized colonies in six districts are releasing about 40 million liters of sewage every day into the Hindon River. This revelation was made in an affidavit filed before the National Green Tribunal (NGT) on April 28, 2026. The state chief secretary's report detailed that these colonies collectively house over 3.8 lakh residents.

Furthermore, the affidavit highlighted that 51 open storm drains within the Hindon basin are carrying an estimated 1,067 MLD of mixed waste, encompassing water, sludge, industrial discharge, and sewage. This data was submitted in response to an NGT order from December 9, 2025, which sought information on untreated sewage discharge from unauthorized settlements.

District-wise, Ghaziabad has 258 such colonies, followed by Meerut with 362, Baghpat with 180, Muzaffarnagar with 31, Shamli with 51, and Saharanpur with six. Due to the lack of planned infrastructure in these unauthorized areas, sewage often flows into open or stormwater drains before reaching the river. Of the 51 assessed drains, nine have been diverted to sewage treatment plants, while Ghaziabad plans to install a new 68 MLD STP.