Lok Sabha Question No. 3726 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-03-18
Subject: Water Pollution
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Rajeshbhai Naranbhai Chudasama

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI,

## DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT & GANGA REJUVENATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3726

ANSWERED ON 1 8.03 .2021

## WATER POLLUTION

## 3726. SHRI RAJESHBHAI CHUDASAMA

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government has constituted any study group for the study of ill - effects of increasing water pollution in rivers of the country and to address it;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) t he details of the provisions made to save the rivers from getting polluted and to clean t

(d) whether the Government is working on any time bound plan to make the rivers completely free; and

(e) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI & SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT

## (SHRI RATTAN LAL KATARIA )

(a) to (e) Water quality of different rivers in the country is being regularly monitored by ag Central  Pollution  Control  Board  (CPCB),  State  Pollution  Control  Boards  (SPCBs),  Pollutio Committees (PCCs) and Central Water Commission (CWC). Rivers n the country are mainly polluted du to discharge of untreated and partially treated sewage from cities/ towns and industrial eff - point sources of pollution like agricultural runoff, open defecation, runoff from solid waste dum lso contribute to pollution of rivers. Based on the assessment of water quality, various meas taken both by the Central and the State Government organisations to prevent pollution of River cleaning is a continuous process and the Cen tral Government assists State Governments and Urban Loc bodies through schemes like 'Namami Gange' and National River Conservation Plan (NRCP) of Ministry of Jal Shakti as well as, Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) a Cities Mission of Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs, etc. NRCP has so far covered polluted stretches 34 rivers in 77 towns spread over 16 States in the countr y with a sanctioned cost of Rs. 5965.90 crore & sewage treatment capacity of 2522.03 million l itres per day (mld) has been created. Under Namami Gange programme, a total of 335 projects has b een sanctioned at a cost of Rs. 29,578 crore so far, of which 142 projects have been completed and made operational. Out of 335 projects, 156 projects are in e sewerage sector for creation of total sewage treatment capacity of 4867 mld, and sewerage network of 5

As per the Provisions of Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 and Water (Prevention & C Pollution), Act 1974, industrial units are required to install effluent treatment plants (ETPs) and t effluents to comply with stipulated environmental standards before discharging into river an Accordingly, CPCB, SPCBs and PCCs monitor industries with respect to effluent d ischarg  standards and take action for non - compliance under provisions of these Acts.

Besides, in compliance of the orders of National Green Tribunal in OA No.673/2018, States/  Union  Territories(UTs)  are  implementing  Action  Plans  for  restoration of  water  quality  in  the identified  polluted  stretches  of  rivers  in  their  respective  States/UTs.  River  Rejuvenat (RRCs) have been constituted by State Governments/UTs for preparation and implementation of Action Plans and a Central M onitoring Committee (CMC) has been constituted at Central level to m progress of implementation.

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