Lok Sabha Question No. 3910 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-12-08
Subject: Powers to National Mission for Clean Ganga
Ministry: WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANAGA REJUVENATION
Asked by: KULAMANI SAMAL

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WATER RESOURCES,

## RIVER DEVELOPMENT & GANGA REJUVENATION LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3910 ANSWERED ON 08.12.2016

## POWERS TO NATIONAL MISSION FOR CLEAN GANGA

## 3910. DR. KULAMANI SAMAL

Will the Minister of WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANGA REJUVENATION be pleased to state:

(a) whether the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) has been empowered with the power to fine those responsible for polluting the river, if so, the details thereof;

(b)  whether the NMCG has found out the industrial effluents as the major reason of pollution of river Ganga, if so, the details of industries established along the river responsible for the pollution;

(c) whether the NMCG since its inception has ever brought the issue before the Central Pollution Control Board,  if  so,  the  details  thereof  along  with  the  action  taken  against  the  industrial  set-ups  and  other polluters since then; and

(d) the quantum of expenditure incurred on the Mission during the last two years and the achievements made in this regard so far?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE (IC) FOR YOUTH AFFAIRS & SPORTS AND MINISTER OF STATE FOR WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANGA REJUVENATION

## (SHRI VIJAY GOEL)

(a)    Government of India has constituted National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) as an Authority under  Environmental  Protection  (EP)  Act,  1986  for  effective  abatement  of  pollution  and  rejuvenation, protection and management of river Ganga. The powers of NMCG, as an authority, inter-alia, includes issue of direction under Section 5 of EP Act, 1986.

(b)  &  (c)  Sewage  and industrial  effluent  discharge  has  been  identified  as  major  source  of  pollution  of River Ganga. NMCG is working in close coordination with CPCB for pollution abatement in river Ganga since its inception. CPCB has identified 764 Grossly Polluting Industries in the five Ganga basin states discharging more than 500 MLD of industrial effluent to river Ganga and its tributary rivers. CPCB has issued directions under Section 5 of (EP) Act, 1986 to 583 units based on the compliance verification of standards. Out of these 583 units, 77 units were issued closure directions.

Directions  have  been  issued  under  section  5  of  (EP)  Act,  to  118  Municipalities  of  Ganga  front  towns including towns of Ramganga & Kali Nadi (Moradabad & Meerut) for management of sewage & solid waste management.

(d)  The funds released to NMCG by the Government during the last two years (2014-15 & 2015-16) is Rs.326.00 crore and Rs. 1632.00 crore respectively.

As  on  30th  September  2016,  128  projects  have  been  sanctioned  under  Namami  Gange Programme  (including  the  existing  projects  sanctioned  under  NGRBA  Programme)  at  an  estimated project cost of Rs.9419 crore. Out of these, 42 projects are sanctioned exclusively under new components of Namami Gange Programme with a sanctioned cost of Rs 977.07 crore. 58 project are sanctioned to create 808.23 MLD new STP and rehabilitation of 1089.00 MLD of STP and laying / rehabilitation of 3627.15 Km sewer network. 8 projects are completed which has created 127.90 MLD of STP and laid 847.36 km of sewerage network.