Lok Sabha Question No. 3860 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-03-18
Subject: River Pollution during Lockdown
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Rahul Ramesh Shewale, Hemant Patil, Omprakash Bhupalsinh alias Pawan Rajenimbalkar

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3860

ANSWERED ON 1

## 8.03 .2021

## RIVER POLLUTION DURI NG LOCKDOWN

## 3860. SHRI RAHUL RAMESH SHEWALE SHRI HEMANT SRIRAM PATIL SHRI OMPRAKASH BHUPALSINH ALIAS PAWAN RAJENIMBALKAR

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

(a)  whether  the  Government  has  taken  cognizance  of  the  dip  in  river  pollution  during  t nationwide lockdown du e to COVID- 19 pandemic in the country;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c)  whether  the  Government  has  received  suggestions  from  various  quarters  to  make  a  chan policy on the basis of data of river pollution collected during the period of lockd own to keep a check on rise of river pollution in the country; and

(d) if so, the details thereof along with action taken/ being taken by the Government on suc far?

## ANSWER

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

## (SHRI RATTAN LAL KATARIA )

(a) & (b) As informed by Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), water quality monitoring of r conducted by the State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs)/Pollution Control Committees (PCCs March & April, 2020 to assess the impact of lockdown due to Covid - 19  pandemic in the country. The exercise  was  undertaken  on  19  major  rivers  namely  Beas,  Brahmputra,  Baitarni,  Brahmani, Chambal,  Ganga,  Ghaggar,  Godavari,  Krishna,  Mahanadi,  Mahi,  Narmada, Pennar,  Sabarmati,  Satluj, Swarnrekha,  Tapi  and  Yamuna.  The  assessment  was  based  on  monitoring  of  parameters  namel Dissolved  Oxygen  (DO),  Bio - chemical  Oxygen  Demand  (BOD)  and  Fecal  Coliform,  as  stipulated Primary  Water  Quality  Criteria  for  outdoor bathing  notified  by  the  Central  Government  under Environment (Protection) Rules, 1986.

Based  on  monitoring  results,  some  of  the  rivers  (Brahmani,  Brahmputra,  Cauvery,  G Krishna, Tapi and Yamuna) showed improvement in water quality which cou ld be attributed to minimal industrial  effluent  discharge,  no  human  and/or  anthropogenic  activities,  cattle  moveme improvement was observed in case of Beas, Chambal, Ganga, Satluj and Swarnrekha rivers. I Sabarmati and Mahi rivers, wate r quality remained unchanged. As such, no definite trend was obse substantiate the impact of lockdown.

(c) & (d)CPCB in association with the SPCB s/PCCs is regularly monitoring water quality of rivers other  water  bodies  in  the country  through  a  network  of  monitoring  stations  under  the  National Quality Monitoring Programme. As the CPCB report of September, 2018, 351 polluted river stre identified on 323 rivers based on monitoring results in terms of BOD, an indic ator of organic pollution.

Rivers in the country are polluted mainly due to discharge of untreated or partially from  cities/towns  and  industrial  effluents in  their  respective  catchments.  It  is  the  responsibili States/Union Territories (UTs) and local bodies to ensure treatment of sewage and industri the prescribed norms before discharging into rivers, water bodies or land to prevent and control of pollution therein.

Based on the assessment of water quality, various measures are being taken both by and the State Government to prevent pollution of rivers. River cleaning is a continuous p Central Government a ssists the State Governments and urban local bodies through schemes like Gange' and National River Conservation Plan (NRCP) of Ministry of Jal Shakti as well as Atal Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) and Smart Cities Mission of Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs, etc. Discharge of industrial effluents is monitored by CPCB and the respective through the provisions of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 and the . Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974. Besides, in compliance of the orders of National Green Tribunal (NGT) in Application (OA) No.673/2018 regarding polluted river stretches in the country, States/UTs a implement  action  plans  for  restoration  of  the  said  stretches in  their  jurisdiction  within  the  stipul timelines. As per the orders of NGT, regular review is undertaken in the States/UTs and a level.

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