Lok Sabha Question No. 1484 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-11-24
Subject: Cleaning of Ganga and Yamuna River
Ministry: WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANAGA REJUVENATION
Asked by: JAGDAMBIKA PAL, CHANDRAKANT RAGHUNATH PATIL, RAVINDRA BABU  PANDULA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT & GANGA REJUVENATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1484 ANSWERED ON 24.11.2016

## CLEANING OF GANGA AND YAMUNA RIVER

## 1484. SHRI JAGDAMBIKA PAL SHRI C.R. PATIL DR. RAVINDRA BABU

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

(a) the details of policy framed for regulating the effluent discharge into the Ganga river;

(b) the progress made so far in cleaning Ganga river along with the current level of pollution in it including the time schedule fixed for its complete cleaning;

(c)  whether the Government is aware that its pollution level has not come down despite huge spending,  if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  the  reasons  therefor  along  with  further  steps  taken  to check its pollution;

(d) whether the Government intends to clean Yamuna river also, if so, the details thereof and the action plan chalked out/ implemented for the purpose; and

(e) whether the Government proposes to establish more water authorities to tackle the pollution issue of the said rivers, if so, the details thereof?

## 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)  Effluent  discharge  into  the  Ganga  River  is  regulated  by  the  provisions  contained  in Environment Protection Act, 1986. CPCB is the nodal agency for implementation of regulations under this Act. Directions have been issued by CPCB  for implementing the water conservation/Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) in 5 key industrial sectors namely distillery, pulp & paper,  sugar,  textile  and  tannery  located  in  the  main  stem  of  Ganga  River  Basin  states. Directions have also been issued for installation of online continuous effluent quality monitoring system to Grossly Polluting Industries (GPIs) located in four states of Ganga River Basin. 118 municipalities /local authorities of towns along river Ganga have been asked to submit a time bound program for implementing solid waste sewage management programme.

(b)  &  (c)  Under  Namami  Gange,  there  are  126  projects  under  execution  which  include  85 projects for creation of new Sewage Treatment Capacity, rehabilitation of existing capacity and also  involves  laying  /  rehabilitation  of  sewer  network.    All  projects  are  scheduled  to  be completed by 2020.

CPCB is monitoring the Water quality of River Ganga at 57 locations from Gangotri to Diamond Harbour and their findings show that:

- The river water quality is in conformity with bathing criteria for Dissolved Oxygen (DO) at most of the locations from 2011 to 2015.
- The long term assessment of water quality data indicates that the river water quality is not conforming to the notified criteria for bathing for BOD between the river stretches from D/s Raiwala to Haridwar D/s in Uttrakhand, from Kannauj to Trighat in Uttar Pradesh and from Baharampore to Uluberia in West Bengal. However, the stretches falling in the state of Bihar have been reported relatively clean in term of organic pollution.
- Except for few locations in the upper stretch of the river, the river does not conform to the water quality criteria for Faecal Coliform of 2500 MPN/100ml.
- Out of the 764 GPIs located on main stem of river Ganga in four states (Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh,  Bihar  &  West  Bengal),  565  units  have  installed  Online  Continuous  Effluent Monitoring System (OCEMS), while others are in the process of installation
- Out of 118 ULBs, 92 ULBs have responded for Sewage Management and 102 ULBs have responded for Solid Waste Management.

(d) Pollution abatement projects under Namami Gange include projects to clean river Yamuna as well. Under Yamuna Action Plan - III (YAP-III), works include rehabilitation/modernization of STPs totalling 814 MLD capacity at Okhla, Kondli and Rithala in Delhi and setting up of tertiary treatment facilities  at  these  STPs.    Further,  two  projects  have  been  sanctioned  in  Sonepat  and Panipat towns at total  cost  of  Rs.  217.87  crore  for  pollution  abatement  of  river  Yamuna.  The main project components includes construction of new STPs and rehabilitation of existing STPs and laying sewerage network.

(e)  The Union Cabinet in its meeting held on 21st September, 2016 has approved 'The River Ganga (Rejuvenation,  Protection  and  Management)  Authorities  Order,  2016'  which  has  since been published in the Gazette of India Extraordinary Part II Section 3 sub section (ii) dated 7th October,  2016.  In  this  order  certain  Authorities  have  been  established  with  Powers  to  issue directions u/s 5 of Environment Protection Act, 1986.

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