Untreated sewage flows on to Kathajodi in Cuttack. Picture by Badrika Nath Das

Cuttack, June 27: The sewage treatment plant at Matagajpur, which is supposed to treat domestic wastewater from the city before discharge to Kathajodi River, is yet to become functional. This is because the flow of sewage in the main stormwater channel has not been reaching its tail end.

Nearly a year ago, a team from the regional office of the State Pollution Control Board in Cuttack had conducted a field study in pursuance of a high court order and reported: “There is a sewage treatment plant at Matagajpur for treatment of domestic effluent before discharge to Kathajodi river. But it was not in operation. Consequently, the entire sewage from Tulasipur to Matagajpur... gets discharged into Kathajodi river.”

Taking note of it, the high court had issued orders for making the plant operational on November 23 last year while adjudicating public interest litigations on civic problems in Cuttack city. But when the matter came up five months later, it was alleged that the plant was yet to become operational.

On April 25, the court set a one-week deadline for making the plan functional.

Cuttack Municipal Corporation handed over the plant to the public health department (PHD) following the court order. “The necessary overhauling of the plant has been done and it is ready to function. Treatment of wastewater will start after there is the required flow of sewage from the main storm water channel into the plant,” said P.C. Mallick, assistant engineer at the Matagajpur plant.

The ongoing renovation work on the main storm water channel under the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)-assisted sewerage and drainage project was posing obstruction for the free flow of wastewater to the plant. Civic officials said steps were being taken to ensure that there was no obstacle to the flow of water in the storm water channel. “JICA officials have assured to clear all obstructions soon,” municipal commissioner Gyanaranjan Das told The Telegraph.

The pollution control board had expressed concern that direct discharge of sewage through the storm water drain was resulting in deterioration of the Kathajodi river water quality.

Analysis of water samples had revealed that the total coliform bacteria, total suspended solids and bio-chemical oxygen demand were beyond prescribed limits.