Lok Sabha Question No. 179 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-02-02
Subject: Drying up of Rivers
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: K. GOPAL

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 179

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 02.02.2018

## Drying up of Rivers

179. DR. K. GOPAL:

Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state: (a) whether experts have predicted the drying  up  of many  rivers  in  the  country soon; (b) if so, the details thereof; (c) whether  the  reason  for  the  predicted  drying  up  of  rivers  was  because  of criminal negligence towards environment and river conservation; and (d) if so, the steps proposed to be taken up by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER  OF  STATE  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND CLIMATE CHANGE (DR. MAHESH SHARMA)

(a) to (c) There are two types of rivers in the country - perennial rivers, in which water  remains  available  throughout  the  year  and  non-perennial  rivers,  which  are rain-fed rivers and in which water flows only during the rainfall period.  The flow in the  river  is  a  dynamic  parameter  and  depends  on  many  sub-parameters  such  as rainfall,  its  distribution  and  intensity  in  the  catchment,  health  of  catchment  area, vegetation and withdrawals/utilization of water. While  reports  by  some  experts  have  expressed  concern  about  reduction  in water  flow  in  rivers,  the  annual  average  flow  data  maintained  by  Central  Water Commission (CWC) for last 20 years for major/important rivers in the country does not indicate  any significant reduction in  water availability.   However, as per CWC, the per capita annual water availability in the country has progressively reduced due to increase in population, urbanization, improved life style of people, etc.

(d) Water  being  a  State  subject,  steps  for  augmentation,  conservation  and efficient management to ensure sustainability of water resources are undertaken by the  respective  State  Governments . In  order  to  supplement the  efforts  of  State Governments, Ministry of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation (MoWR, RD&GR) provides technical and financial assistance to State Governments to encourage  sustainable  development  and  efficient  management  of water  resources  through  various  schemes. The  National  Water  Policy-2012  has been formulated by MoWR, RD&GR with the objective of preparing a framework for creation of laws, institutions and plan of action for water resources development and management taking into account the existing situation. A National Perspective Plan for Water Resources Development has also been formulated by MoWR, RD&GR for transfer of water from surplus basins to water deficient basins.

Discharge  of  untreated  and  partially  treated  sewage  from  cities/towns  and industrial  effluents  constitute  a  major  source  of  pollution  in  rivers.    Ministry  of Environment, Forest & Climate Change has been supplementing the efforts of the State Governments in abatement of pollution in identified stretches of various rivers under the National River Conservation Plan (NRCP). The NRCP has so far covered polluted  stretches  of  31  rivers  (excluding  Ganga  and  its  tributaries)  in  75  towns spread  over  14  States  at  a  sanctioned  cost  of  Rs.  4517.82  crore.  So  far,  Central share  of  Rs.  2197.97  crore  has  been  released  to  the  State  Governments  for implementation of various pollution abatement schemes and sewage treatment plant (STP) capacity of 2455.43 mld (million litres per day) has been created under the NRCP.

State  Governments,  apart  from  their  own  budgetary  allocation,  are  also accessing  financial  assistance  for  creation  of  sewerage  infrastructure,  including sewage treatment plants, in various cities/towns under Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) & Smart Cities Mission programmes of Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs and the 'Namami Gange' programme of MoWR, RD&GR.

To control discharge of industrial effluents, the Central Pollution Control Board and respective State Pollution Control Boards/Pollution Control Committees monitor industries  with  respect  to  effluents  discharge  standards  and  take  action  for  noncompliance under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.

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