Lok Sabha Question No. 1543 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-07-26
Subject: Contamination Free Rivers
Ministry: WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANAGA REJUVENATION
Asked by: M. I. SHANAVAS

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

## LOK SABHA

## UN STARRED QUESTION NO. 1543 ANSWERED ON 26.0 7.201 8

## CONTAMINATION FREE R IVERS

## 1543. SHRI M.I. SHANAVAS

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

(a) whether any stretches of Ganga or other major rivers have become contamination free a details thereof;

(b)  whether  any  town/city  on  the  r iver  banks  have  succeeded  in  treating  all  wastes  before  th released into rivers and if so, the details thereof; and

(c) the amount of money spent during the last three years and the current year for rive projects and the physical targets achieved thereunder so far?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANGA REJUVENATION & HUMAN RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT

## ( DR. SATYA PAL SINGH )

(a)River  cleaning  and  development  is  a  continuous  process  and  National  Mission  for  Clea (NMCG) supplements the efforts of state government in cleaning of river Ganga and its tr providing financial assistance to the state government. The riv er water quality assessment carried out 2017 indicates improvement in water quality trends as compared to 2016.  The Dissolved Oxy have improved at 33 locations and is above the primary bathing water quality requirements Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) levels and Faecal coliforms have decreased at 26 locations and locations, respectively.

Some stretches, where the improvement has been observed.

- ( i ) Ganga at Rishikesh U/S
- ( ii ) Ganga at Haridwar D/S
- ( iii ) Ganga at Allahabad D/S (Sangam),
- ( iv ) Ganga at Kanpur D/S (Jajmau Pumping Station)
- ( v) Ganga at Varanasi U/S (Assighat)
- ( vi ) Ganga at Buxar, Ramrekhaghat
- ( vii ) Ganga at Punpun, Patna
- ( viii ) Ganga at Diamond Harbour
- ( ix ) Ganga at Garden Reach
- ( x) Ganga at Baharampur
- ( xi ) Ganga at Howrah Shivpur

For other major rivers (excluding Ganga and its tributaries), Ministry of Environ and Climate Change (MoEF & CC) under National River Conservation Plan (NRCP) has taken up wor which includes interception & diversion of raw sewage, constructio n of sewerage systems, setting up of sewage treatment plants, low cost sanitation, river front / bathing ghat development, etc.

(b)Government of India is supplementing the efforts of the state governments in addressing of river Ganga by p roviding financial assistance to the states. Government of India has approve Gange Programme in May 2015 for conservation of rive r Ganga with total outlay of Rs. 20,000 Crores. Namami Gange Programme is an umbrella programme which integrates previou s and currently ongoing initiatives by enhancing efficiency, extracting synergies and supplementing them comprehensive & better coordinated interventions.

Namami  Gange  programme  is  being  carried  out  through  various  coordinated  acti includi ng treatment of municipal sewage, treatment of industrial effluent, river surface c sanitation, River Front Development, Ghats and Crematoria, afforestation & biodiversity c public outreach etc.

Against the estimated sewage gener ation of 2953 MLD from the towns along main stem of river Ganga, the sewage treatment capacity in the towns along Ganga has increased from 1 (2014) to 1681 MLD capacity while the projects for creation of 784 MLD STP capacity are a stages of completion. In addition, the projects for creation of 769 MLD have been approved tendering.

With  the  completion  of  sanctioned  projects,  51  towns/cities  along  Ganga will  succeed  in treating the sewage currently generated. Out of these, in 6 towns namely Gangotri, Devpray (Tehri),  Gayeshpur,  Kalyani  and  Bhatpara  suitable  sewage  treatment  capacity  have  alr established to treat the current sewage gen eration.

Cleaning of river is a continuous process and efforts are being made to complete th by the year 2020.

(c)An amount ofRs.3,696.49 crore has been released by NMCG during the last three years and curre year, so far, to State Governm ents/State Programme Management Groups/ Other Executing Agencies o State Governments under the Namami Gange Program. Against the estimated sewage generation of 295 MLD from the towns along main stem of river Ganga, the sewage treatment capacity in the to wns along Ganga has increased from 1305 MLD (2014) to 1681 MLD apart from developing additional sew networks and projects in other sectors of mission .

During the last three years and current year, Central share of Rs.351.87 crore has to various  State  Government  and  176.02 Million  Litres  per  Day (MLD)  treatment  capacity  has  been created under NRCP.

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