India, April 19 -- Nearly a third of sewage treatment plants (STP) in Uttarakhand are discharging untreated sewage into the Ganga and its tributaries, according to a recent audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG), raising concerns about pollution along the river stretch from Devprayag to Haridwar despite significant public spending.

The CAG report found that 12 out of 44 STPs or around 32 per cent were releasing untreated wastewater due to inadequate capacity, faulty connections and poor maintenance.

Efforts to clean the Ganga have been ongoing since 1985, but the audit suggests that pollution levels remain high, particularly in Uttarakhand, where the river's upper stretches are located.

The CAG report, which review...