Jagaddal Bhatpara Wastewater Treatment Plant, Bhatpara, West Bengal

Jagaddal Bhatpara is a wastewater treatment plant located in Bhatpara, a city in the North 24 Parganas district of West Bengal, India. It is part of the Kolkata Metropolitan Area, one of the largest urban agglomerations in the country. The plant was designed to serve a population of 66,812, placing it in the medium-scale category for Indian municipal wastewater infrastructure. The plant is currently non-operational. In India, wastewater treatment plants are regulated under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, and the Environment Protection Act, 1986. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and the West Bengal Pollution Control Board (WBPCB) oversee compliance. For a plant of this scale, secondary treatment is typically required, with tertiary treatment expected if discharging into sensitive water bodies. The area drains into the Hooghly River, a distributary of the Ganges, which flows into the Bay of Bengal. The Hooghly River supports diverse aquatic life and is a vital water source for the region. The non-operational status of the plant may pose risks to local water quality and downstream ecosystems.

The plant is located in the Ganges-Brahmaputra delta, one of the most ecologically significant regions in India. The nearest major river is the Hooghly, which flows through the Kolkata Metropolitan Area and ultimately discharges into the Bay of Bengal. The Hooghly River supports a rich diversity of fish and other aquatic species and is a critical migratory corridor for several species. The non-operational status of the plant could contribute to untreated wastewater entering the river system, affecting water quality and downstream ecosystems.