STPs near Ganga to be monitored through CCTV, AI tools: Jal Shakti Minister
New Delhi, Jan 5
Jal Shakti Minister C.R. Paatil said on Monday that to further enhance the monitoring of STPs, the National Mission for Clean Ganga is introducing CCTV-based real-time monitoring integrated with AI tools.
Chairing the 17th meeting of the Empowered Task Force (ETF), Paatil stressed giving impetus to technology-driven river rejuvenation and appreciated the completion of 15 pollution abatement infrastructure projects during the last calendar year, terming it a significant achievement in the ongoing efforts for Ganga rejuvenation.
Elaborating on the CCTV-based initiative, the Minister said that while STPs are already being comprehensively monitored through Online Continuous Effluent Monitoring Systems (OCEMS) - which track key water quality parameters such as BOD, COD, DO, pH and TSS and are integrated with the public Ganga Pulse dashboard - this initiative, integrated with an AI-enabled feature extraction system and a centralized dashboard, adds a critical layer of physical and visual monitoring to address concerns related to effective operation of STPs.
The meeting focused on strengthening data-based decision-making, monitoring mechanisms and compliance frameworks under the Namami Gange Programme, with special emphasis on drainage mapping and enhanced surveillance of sewage treatment infrastructure, said a statement.
Paatil noted that the completion of these projects reflects strengthened coordination, effective monitoring, and focused implementation, laying a robust foundation for long-term river rejuvenation.
Uttar Pradesh led the states with the completion of six projects, followed by Bihar and West Bengal with four and three projects, respectively. Both Uttarakhand and Delhi completed one project each, he said.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Good to see progress with 15 projects completed last year. But I have a respectful criticism: we've heard about many initiatives for Ganga cleaning for decades. The real test is sustained operation and maintenance. CCTV monitoring is fine, but what about ensuring these STPs actually have the funds and staff to run 24/7? That's the bigger challenge.
Finally some action! UP, Bihar, and WB completing the most projects makes sense as they bear the biggest pollution load. The Ganga is our mother, and seeing technology like AI being used to protect her gives me hope 🙏. Now please make the centralized dashboard data easily accessible to the public.
As someone who visited Varanasi last year, the state of the river is heartbreaking. Integrating AI with physical monitoring sounds promising for tackling the operational issues. Hope this leads to tangible improvements in water quality that locals and pilgrims can actually see and feel.
Technology is great, but the focus should also be on stopping untreated sewage from entering the river in the first place. Drainage mapping is key. Many cities still have combined drains. Unless the sewage is intercepted and directed to these STPs, all this monitoring won't yield maximum results.
Appreciate the update. It's encouraging to see specific numbers - 6 projects in UP, 4 in Bihar etc. Shows they are tracking state-wise progress. The Namami Gange programme needs this kind of transparent, data-driven approach to win public trust. Jai Ganga Maiya! 🙌
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