Lok Sabha Question No. 2242 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-07-04
Subject: Study Group on Water Pollution
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: P.P. Chaudhary

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI, DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT & GANGA REJUVENATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. †2242

ANSWERED ON 04 .0 7.2019

## STUDY GROUP ON WATER POLLUTION

## †2242. SHRI P.P. CHAUDHARY

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government has constituted any study group for the prevention of rising wate rivers of the country;

(b) if so, the details of the study report in this regard;

- (c) the pr ovisions made/being made to clean the rivers and protect them from pollution; and

(d) whether the Government is working on any time bound project to make rivers completely free and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

## (SHRI RATTAN LAL KATARIA )

( a) to (d)    Central  Pollution  Control  Board  (CPCB)  in  collaboration  with  the  State  Polluti Boards  is  regularly  monitoring  the  water  quality  of  rivers  across  the  country  through monitoring  stations  under  the  National  Water  Quality  Monitorin g  Programme.  Based  on  monitoring results  in  terms  of  Bio -chemical  Oxygen  Demand  (BOD)  levels,  a  key  indicator  of  organic  pollu CPCB has identifies the polluted river stretches in the country. In the latest CPCB report 2018, 351 polluted r iver stretches have been identified on 323 rivers.

As  per  National  Ganga  River  Basin  Authority  (NGRB)  framework,  it  is  envisaged  t untreated sewage shall be disposed to Ganga by the year 2020. Accordingly, Namami Gange pro has  been  launched  w hich  provides  necessary  actions  towards  achieving  the  objective.  A  num activities/ projects covering sewage infrastructure projects, rural sanitation projects, i abatement works, ghats & crematoria development projects, river surfa ce cleaning projects, bio -diversity conservation projects, afforestation projects and public outreach has been undertaken towar of pollution in river Ganga and its tributaries.

So far, under Namami Gange Programme, a total of 298 projects hav e been sanctio ned at an estimated cost of Rs. 28,451.29 Crore. Out of these 298 projects, 150 are sewerage projects (111 stem  &  39  in  tributaries)  sanctioned  at  cost  of  Rs . 23,130.95  Crore  for  creation  of  new  STP  capacit of 372 9.92 Millions of Litres Per Day (MLD), 1114.39 MLD rehabilitated STP capacity and la around 4972.35 km sewerage networks.

Assistance is provided to State Governments for abatement of pollution in identified various rivers ( excluding Ganga and its tributaries) under the Centrally sponsored Scheme River Conservation Plan (NRCP) on cost sharing basis be tween the Central & State Governments for taking  up  various  pollution  abatement  works  relating  to  interception  &  diversion  of  r construction of sewerage systems, setting up of sewage treatment plans, low cost installati bathing  gh at development, etc. Implementation of NRCP works has led to reduction in pollut draining into rivers as well as improving the environment & sanitation conditions in the t the programme have been implemented.

Further,  to  control discharge  of  industrial  effluents,  CPCB  and  respective    State  P Control Boards (SPCBs) and Pollution Control Committees (PCCs) monitor industries with re effluent discharge standards and take action for non - compliance under the water (Preve ntion and Control of  Pollution)  Act,  1974  and  the  Environment  (Protection)  Act,  1986.  To  improve  the  moni compliance, directions have been issued by CPCB to specific industries to install online monitoring systems.  Steps have also b een taken by CPCB to promote low waste concept in grossly wat polluting industries, particularly those located on the river banks.

*****