Gurgaon and Faridabad, two rapidly expanding cities in Haryana, are grappling with a severe sewage and drainage infrastructure crisis. Despite the presence of operational sewage treatment plants (STPs), large volumes of untreated wastewater continue to flow through overloaded drains linked to the Yamuna River, according to official records reviewed by The Times of India.
Gurgaon's Sewage Treatment Gap
Gurgaon has 12 operational STPs with a combined capacity of 415 million litres per day (MLD). However, only about 388 MLD of sewage reaches these plants, while the city generates an estimated 433 MLD daily. This gap indicates that a significant amount of wastewater bypasses the formal sewer network and flows directly into drains. Officials estimate that around 287 MLD of untreated sewage from Gurgaon enters open drains connected to the Najafgarh drainage system, which ultimately feeds the Yamuna in Delhi.
Infrastructure Shortcomings
STPs are designed to treat sewage from homes, markets, apartments, and industries before discharge, but major gaps in sewer connectivity, interception systems, and drain management have left large sections of Gurgaon unlinked to treatment infrastructure. A senior Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB) official explained that many STPs were designed based on projected populations, but rapid and unplanned urban growth created sewage loads outside the planned network. “Illegal colonies came up later and were never part of the original sewage calculations. Now either those colonies have to be connected to sewer networks or interception pipelines have to be laid to divert that water to STPs,” the official said.
The problem has worsened over the past decade as areas along Dwarka Expressway, New Gurgaon, Sohna Road, and Manesar expanded faster than sewer and drainage infrastructure could keep up.
Identified Pollution Hotspots
Earlier surveys under the Yamuna Action Plan identified more than 287 MLD of untreated sewage entering major drains from Gurgaon and adjoining areas. This included 55.4 MLD flowing through the Badshahpur drain leg-I and another 78 MLD through leg-II. Pollution hotspots were also found at Udyog Vihar discharge points, Yakubpur outfall, and several unidentified openings feeding the Najafgarh drain network. Officials identified at least 17 discharge points where sewage interception and treatment are still required.
Efforts to Stop Untreated Discharge
Hemant Kumar, chief engineer of the Gurugram Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA), said authorities are working to stop untreated discharge into the three major drain systems linked to the Yamuna network. “In leg one, almost all untreated discharge has been stopped. In leg two, we are identifying points that need to be tapped because much of the drain is underground. In leg three, MCG has assured that all untreated discharge points will be tapped within three to four months,” Kumar said. He acknowledged that large quantities of sewage are still escaping treatment due to missing sewer links and untapped discharge points. “We are working to fix this within a year. New STPs are also being developed and are expected to be completed by 2027. We also plan an additional STP at Dhanwapur by 2030,” he added.
Need for Comprehensive Solutions
According to HSPCB officials, the solution goes beyond building more STPs and requires extensive interception and tapping work across drains. “It is not just about building STPs. Separate tapping, interception, and sewerage plans are underway. In some drains, dozens of discharge points have been identified where untreated water is entering,” an official said. Experts say this explains why rivers remain polluted even when treatment plants are technically operational. “If sewage itself does not reach the treatment plant, the river still gets polluted,” said Akanksha Tanwar, regional officer (north Gurgaon), HSPCB.
Proposed New STPs
To address the growing mismatch between sewage generation and treatment capacity, GMDA has proposed four new STPs: 100 MLD plants each at Dhanwapur, Behrampur, and Sector 107, along with a 40 MLD facility at Naurangpur. Most are expected to be completed by 2027. A 25 MLD STP at Manesar and Naharpur Kasan is expected to become operational by August 2025, while a 2 MLD plant at Bajghera remains under construction.
Faridabad's Similar Struggles
The review found that similar problems persist in Faridabad, another major urban centre in Haryana's Yamuna catchment area. Two STPs in Faridabad, including the 45 MLD Badshahpur plant, were found failing to meet prescribed discharge standards. Vishal Bansal, chief engineer of the Faridabad Metropolitan Development Authority (FMDA), said the Badshahpur STP had remained defunct for years before being rehabilitated recently. “Over the last six months, trial runs were unsuccessful due to issues with blowers and diffusers. But in the last 15 to 20 days, it has started functioning and HSPCB has also tested it,” Bansal said. The plant is currently treating 20-25 MLD of sewage and is expected to gradually reach its full 45 MLD capacity over the next few months.
Bansal noted that Faridabad until recently lacked adequate sewage treatment infrastructure altogether. “About a year ago, even the STPs were not there in Faridabad to treat wastewater. Most of the sewage was going untreated into drains.” According to him, around 300 MLD of treatment capacity has become functional in the past year, and nearly 200 MLD of sewage is now being treated. “It may take another six months to one year to connect all sewage lines to the STP network,” he added.
Statewide Perspective
Across Haryana's Yamuna catchment, around 1,239 MLD of sewage is generated daily. Although the state has installed 91 STPs with a combined capacity of 1,519.7 MLD, only about 1,100 MLD of sewage actually reaches these facilities, leaving a substantial volume untreated. The review also found 12 STPs across Haryana failing to meet prescribed pollution standards, including plants in Faridabad, Rohtak, Bahadurgarh, Jhajjar, Gohana, Ganaur, Hathin, Hassanpur, and Hodal.
Industrial Discharge
Industrial discharge is adding further pressure to the Yamuna system. Across Haryana's Yamuna basin, 3,238 industries generate around 209 MLD of industrial effluent. Gurgaon alone accounts for 685 industries discharging 74.3 MLD, among the highest industrial loads in the state. The report also flagged illegal sewage dumping by tanker operators and untreated discharge entering stormwater drains.
Monitoring and Enforcement
According to HSPCB officials, Yamuna pollution reviews are now being held every 15 days with deputy commissioners, divisional commissioners, and senior state authorities monitoring progress on STPs, interception points, and sewerage links. “The pollution in Yamuna is a manifestation of untreated discharge over years,” said activist Varun Gulati, adding that industries avoiding treatment costs and illegal dumping remain major enforcement challenges.
Temporary Measures
As a temporary measure, authorities are using bio-remediation and phyto-remediation techniques in drains across Gurgaon and nearby districts to reduce pollution before wastewater enters river systems.
Groundwater Contamination
Groundwater monitoring by HSPCB also revealed contamination concerns across the Yamuna basin. Of 89 groundwater monitoring locations tested, 24 were found unfit for drinking water standards.
