Jharkhand: Ganga River Pristine for 7 Years!

Jharkhand has established a seven-year record of maintaining a pollution-free Ganga main stem, a notable achievement under the Namami Gange program. Unlike typical river conservation stories focused on cleanup, Jharkhand's success stems from a proactive strategy of preventing pollution in the first place. The Central Pollution Control Board confirmed zero polluted river stretches on the state's Ganga main stem in both 2018 and 2025.

The state's approach prioritizes strategic interventions, particularly addressing pollution from tributaries and industrial areas rather than the main stem. Five sewage infrastructure projects, totaling a capacity of 261.5 million liters per day and costing ₹1,310 crore, have been approved, with three projects already completed, contributing 29.5 MLD of treatment capacity.

A significant aspect of Jharkhand's model is the innovative reuse of treated wastewater. The Jojobera Thermal Power Plant, for instance, utilizes treated wastewater from a nearby sewage treatment plant, demonstrating a successful circular economy model for water. This initiative is set to be formalized with the proposed notification of the Safe Reuse of Treated Water Policy.

While the Ganga main stem remains clean, pollution challenges persist in other rivers across Jharkhand. Ten polluted stretches on these other rivers have been identified by the CPCB and are being addressed through the state's action plan.