Lok Sabha Question No. 3094 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-03-21
Subject: Surface Water Pollution
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: PINAKI MISRA

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3094

TO BE ANSWERED ON 21.03.2017

## Surface Water Pollution

## 3094. SHRI PINAKI MISRA

Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether it  is  a  fact  that  'Water  Aid'  an  international  organization  has  stated  in  its report that 80 per cent of the surface water in India is polluted and is dangerous to health;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the reaction of the Government thereto; and
- (c) the steps taken by the Government to check surface water pollution in the country?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER  OF  STATE  (INDEPENDENT  CHARGE)  FOR  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI ANIL MADHAV DAVE)

(a)to  (c)            Government  is  aware  of  a  report  prepared  by  Water  Aid,  non-governmental organisation on Surface Water Pollution and its impact on health. However, Water Aid has not undertaken any independent assessment of surface water pollution in India and its report is  based  on  assessment  of  CPCB  and  other  organizations.  The  surface  water  quality  is monitored by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) in association with the concerned State Pollution Control Boards(SPCBs) and Pollution Control Committees (PCCs) for Union Territories  across  the  country  at  2500  stations,  including  1693  stations    for  surface  water under National Water Monitoring  Programme (NWMP). As per available data for 2016, 55% observations conform to criteria related to Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD), 44% to total coliform and 60% to faecal coliform.

Surface water pollution is a major concern and Government has recently taken a number of steps, including directions issued by CPCB to various SPCBs requiring local/ urban  bodies to set up systems for sewage collection, treatment and disposal. The directions enjoins upon sewage treatment plants to meet the standards laid down for treated sewage to be used for non-potable  purpose.  To  mitigate  industrial  pollution,  directions  have  been  issued  for installation  of  online  (24x7)  monitoring      devices  as  well  as  promotion  of  Zero  Liquid Discharge (ZLD) in selected areas and adoption of water conservation practices.

This  Ministry  also  supplements  the  efforts  of  the  State  Governments  in  abatement  of pollution  in  identified  stretches  of  various  rivers  under  National  River  Conservation  Plan (NRCP) on cost sharing basis between the Central and State Governments. NRCP (excluding

Ganga  and  its  tributaries  which  is  handled  by  Ministry  of  Water  Resources,  River Development  and  Ganga  Rejuvenation  from  01.08.2014  onwards)  has  covered  polluted stretches of 31 rivers in 75 towns spread over 14 States at a sanctioned cost of Rs. 4517.82 crore.  So  far,  sewage  treatment  capacity  of  2445.50  million  liters  per  day  (mld)  has  been created under the NRCP Programme (excluding Ganga and its tributaries).

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