A sewage treatment plant installed at an apartment complex in Mysuru.
| Photo Credit: File Photo
Forest, Ecology and Environment Minister Ramalinga Reddy on Thursday directed the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) to inspect private sewage treatment plants (STPs) operating in apartments, educational institutions, commercial complexes, hospitals and office buildings across Bengaluru and ensure that they comply with prescribed pollution-control standards.
The direction comes amid concerns over the discharge of untreated and partially treated sewage into Bengaluru’s water bodies. The Minister also instructed the Bengaluru Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) to ensure that sewage is properly channelled to STPs for treatment and safe disposal.
As part of the measures, BWSSB has been directed to divert wastewater currently flowing into stormwater drains by laying missing stretches of sewer lines. Immediate remedial action has also been sought to repair or reconstruct damaged manholes.
The Minister further directed KSPCB and BWSSB to jointly conduct field inspections of liquid and solid waste generated by industries, particularly in industrial areas such as Peenya and Jigani, and take necessary action to prevent pollution.
Reviewing Bengaluru’s sewage management capacity, authorities noted that the city generates around 2,580 million litres per day (MLD) of sewage, while the existing capacity of 37 STPs is 1,364.5 MLD. The present treatment gap stands at 1,215.5 MLD. Ongoing projects involving 42 STPs are expected to add 1,147 MLD, while upgrading existing plants will add another 60 MLD, reducing the projected gap to 8.5 MLD.
The government plans to complete seven STPs with a combined capacity of 51 MLD by December 2026, followed by 17 STPs with 413 MLD capacity by December 2027. Nine more STPs with a total capacity of 148 MLD are scheduled for completion by December 2028, while another nine plants with 535 MLD capacity are targeted for December 2029.
Mr. Reddy also directed BWSSB to ensure that all STPs meet the standards prescribed by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) and KSPCB. Plants currently not meeting the prescribed standards have been instructed to comply within 30 days. BWSSB has also been asked to identify illegal sewer connections in areas where sewer networks are available and ensure that residents are provided proper sewerage connections.
Published – September 10, 2026 09:39 pm IST
