Algae and Sewage Crisis Deepens in Ranchi’s Bada Talab; Questions Raised Over STP Plant

📰 💧 Algae and Sewage Crisis Deepens in Ranchi’s Bada Talab; Questions Raised Over STP Plant

Ranchi, Jharkhand: Pollution in Ranchi’s iconic Bada Talab (Big Pond) has emerged as a serious concern. Highlighting the deteriorating condition of the waterbody, Dr. Anjani Kumar, former Principal Scientist (Environmental Management Group) at , Barwa Road, Dhanbad, has called for immediate remedial action.

       Ineffective Sewage Treatment Plant

Dr.Kumar has raised concern over the Sewage waste water coming toward  Sewa Sadan and joining in to Bada Talaab The plant is failing to achieve it's intended and failure to fulfill it's purpose. Dr.Kumar filling pain to mention that this situation few months back put into notice of Sanjay Kumar Additional  Controller Ranchi Municipal Corporation and Gourav Controller of Ranchi Municipal Corporation, but his reports puts in drawer of junked filled,  only with soft assurance that he will contact when meeting will be decided.

He stated that Bada Talab is completely choked with algae and until polluted sewage is properly treated, it is impossible to control algal growth. The most alarming observation, he said, is that polluted sewage appears to be flowing into the pond below the STP without any treatment. This directly questions the efficiency and purpose of the plant, prompting him to describe it as a “white elephant”—costly but ineffective.

           Thick Algal Layer and Pollution

Dr. Kumar explained that the pond is entirely covered with algae, which is a clear indicator of severe water-quality degradation. The excessive growth is driven by high concentrations of nutrients such as phosphates and nitrates entering the pond through untreated sewage.

He emphasized that the algae problem can only be resolved if sewage inflow is fully and effectively treated before it reaches the pond.

Meaningful Laboratory Efforts

Dr. Kumar has collected samples of algae-laden water from Bada Talab along with polluted sewage for laboratory analysis. He informed that meaningful laboratory-level efforts are underway to reduce pollution in the pond’s water and to identify the most effective purification technologies.

He urged the administration to immediately examine the functioning of the STP and take concrete steps to stop the discharge of untreated sewage into the pond, in order to protect this important waterbody of .