Key Takeaways

  • Three Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) under construction in Muzaffarpur remain incomplete even after four years, leaving the city’s rivers and ponds exposed to untreated sewage.
  • Budco’s delay in completing both the STP structures and connecting drains has resulted in direct discharge of toxic wastewater into the Budhi Gandak River and local ponds.
  • The National Green Tribunal (NGT) mandates that untreated wastewater must not enter rivers or ponds — a directive that Muzaffarpur continues to violate, attracting heavy penalties.
  • Cultural sites, including several ponds once used for Chhath Puja, have become too polluted for ritual use, revealing the deep ecological and social impact of urban negligence.
  • Sustainable completion of STPs and community-driven pond restoration are critical to preventing Muzaffarpur’s water heritage from vanishing altogether.

1. The Unfinished Promise of Sewage Treatment

Muzaffarpur’s pledge to protect its rivers and ponds from sewage contamination remains largely unfulfilled. The Bihar Urban Infrastructure Development Corporation (Budco) initiated the construction of three Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) in the city over four years ago, aiming to clean wastewater before it reaches the Budhi Gandak River.

However, none of the plants — at Sikandarpur, Dighra Canal, and Manika Maun — are operational. The connecting drains that should carry sewage to these treatment plants also remain incomplete. Consequently, untreated sewage continues to flow directly into local ponds, canals, and the river.

This delay is not just administrative inefficiency — it has become an environmental crisis.

2. NGT’s Directive and the Cost of Non-Compliance

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has issued strict orders across India: untreated sewage must not be discharged into rivers, lakes, or ponds. Only after treatment should water be released into natural streams. Additionally, immersion of idols and direct flow from industrial drains into rivers are prohibited.

In Muzaffarpur, these rules exist only on paper. The city’s Budhi Gandak River has turned visibly dark and foul-smelling, especially near Sikandarpur Sluice Gate, Kamra Mohalla, Lakridhai, and Chandwara, where major drains discharge waste directly.

As a result, Muzaffarpur faces repeated fines from the NGT, yet no visible progress has been made on the ground.

3. Ponds Lost to Neglect and Pollution

Once a city of sacred water bodies, Muzaffarpur had 10 ponds where devotees performed Chhath Puja around 15 years ago. Today, only a handful remain functional.

Polluted and encroached, Maharaji Pokhar, Ghirni Pokhar, Sadpura Pokharia Peer, and Brahmpura Pokhar have been abandoned for religious use. Even the three remaining ponds — including Padav Pokhar — are on the brink of collapse.

Residents near Padav Pokhar managed to block a sewage channel, slightly improving its condition, but such isolated community efforts cannot replace systemic intervention.

The situation is dire even at university grounds, where two ponds once hosted Chhath rituals — now reduced to just one due to contamination and silt buildup.

4. The Budhi Gandak Crisis

Flowing through the heart of Muzaffarpur, the Budhi Gandak River bears the heaviest pollution load. Four major sewage discharge points — Sikandarpur Kundal, Sikandarpur Sluice Gate, Kamra Mohalla, and Chandwara — continuously dump domestic and hospital waste into the river.

Downstream, Sikandarpur Maun, Yogiyamath, Juran Chapra, and Brahmpura are equally affected, receiving unfiltered sewage through smaller drains.

Even as beautification projects — including boat rides and a floating restaurant — are being proposed for the Sikandarpur Maun, toxic inflows from hospitals and residential drains continue unchecked.

In Bela, chemical-laden wastewater from industrial areas like Mithanpura and BIADA flows untreated into natural water channels.

5. Why STP Completion Is Critical

Each STP in Muzaffarpur was designed to treat millions of liters of sewage daily. Their completion would:

  • Reduce contamination of the Budhi Gandak River.
  • Revive local ponds, restoring their ecological and cultural role.
  • Prevent NGT penalties, saving crores in fines.
  • Improve public health, by reducing exposure to contaminated water.
  • Support urban development, especially in beautification and tourism projects like Sikandarpur Maun.

However, until the drainage linkage network is completed — connecting Mithanpura, BMP, and Rohua through to the STPs — these benefits remain theoretical.

6. A Cultural and Ecological Turning Point

Muzaffarpur’s ponds are not mere water bodies; they are repositories of cultural memory. The Chhath Puja rituals, symbolic of purity and devotion, depend on clean and accessible water sources. The disappearance or degradation of these ponds signals not just environmental decay but a loss of identity for the city’s residents.

Local activists and residents argue that community participation, transparency in Budco’s project timelines, and independent environmental monitoring are essential to reclaim these spaces.

Unless these incomplete STPs are swiftly operationalized and polluting drains are diverted, Muzaffarpur may soon lose not only its rivers but its cultural soul.

Did You Know?

According to a 2024 report by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Bihar generates over 1,200 MLD (million liters per day) of sewage, but has operational treatment capacity for less than 40%. Muzaffarpur’s three unfinished STPs alone represent nearly 100 MLD of missing capacity.

Conclusion

Muzaffarpur’s water crisis is a lesson in how infrastructure delays translate into ecological disaster. The city’s rivers, ponds, and rituals are all paying the price for administrative inaction. Completing the STPs, ensuring functional drain connectivity, and involving local citizens in water management are the only sustainable paths forward.

A city once known for its devotion and water heritage can still reclaim its purity — but only if action replaces apathy.

FAQs

What is an STP and why is it important?

An STP (Sewage Treatment Plant) removes pollutants and toxins from wastewater before it is released into natural water bodies. It prevents contamination and supports public health.

How many STPs are being built in Muzaffarpur?

Three — at Sikandarpur, Dighra Canal, and Manika Maun — but none have been completed after four years.

What penalties has the city faced for non-compliance?

The NGT has imposed multiple fines on Muzaffarpur for allowing untreated sewage to flow into the Budhi Gandak River and local ponds.

Which ponds are no longer usable for Chhath Puja?

Maharaji Pokhar, Ghirni Pokhar, Sadpura Pokharia Peer, and Brahmpura Pokhar have become too polluted for religious use.

How can the problem be solved?

Immediate completion of STPs, full drainage linkage, community-based pond cleanups, and strict enforcement of pollution laws can reverse the crisis.