Lok Sabha Question No. 1844 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-09-22
Subject: Awareness Campaign to Control Pollution of Rivers
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Jaswantsinh Sumanbhai Bhabhor, Naranbhai Bhikhabhai Kachhadiya, Shantanu Thakur, Parbatbhai Savabhai Patel

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. †1844

ANSWERED ON 22.09.2020

## AWARENESS CAMPAIGN T O CONTROL POLLUTION OF RIVERS

†1844. SHRI JASWANT SINGH BHABHOR SHRI SHANTANU THAKUR

SHRI NARANBHAI KACHHADIYA SHRI PARBATBHAI SAVABHAI PATEL

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

(a) whether any awareness campaign has been launched or is being launched to control the lution of rivers in urban areas, continuous degradation of marine ecology and environmental degradatio (b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) the details of various measures being taken to reduce water pollution in rivers particu areas;

(d) whether pollution was drastically reduced in various cities of India during the lockdow details thereof; and

(e) the various measures taken to control pollution on the basis of the said criteria?

## ANSWER

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

## (SHRI RATTAN LAL KATARIA )

(a) & ( b)  Public  participation  is  a  very  important  component  of  river  conservation/r programme. Under National River Conservation Plan (NRCP) and Namami Gange programme, of this Ministry financial assistance is provided to the participating States for undertak conservation/rejuvenation activities including education and awareness among the local peo and  other  stakeholders  about  the  value,  functions and  ecological  services  of  rivers  through  awaren campaign/publication, distribution of pamphlets, video films, Yatras, slogan/drawing/essay etc.

(c)  Cleaning and rejuvenation of rivers is a continuous process and Central Government is the efforts of the State Governments and Union Territories in addressing the challenges o rivers by providing financial and technical ass istance through schemes like NRCP and Namami Gange. NRCP (excluding Ganga and its tributaries) has so far covered polluted stretches of 34 rive spread  over  16  States  in  the  country  at  a  sanctioned  cost  of  Rs.5870.54  crore,  and  ST Treatment Plant) capacity of 2522.03 million liters per day (MLD) has been created so far. U Gange programe,a total of 315 projects have been sanctioned at an estimated cost of Rs.28854

which includes 151 sewerage projects. Through construction of new STPs and rehabilitation of against a sewage generation of 2950 MLD from 97 towns along Ganga, projects for 3300 MLD c creation  has  been  sanctioned  and  capacity  of  2180  MLD  has  be en  reached.In  addition,  sewerage infrastructure  is  also  being  created  under  programs  like  Atal  Mission  For  Rejuvenatio Transformation (AMRUT) and Smart Cities Mission of Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs.

Besides, Central Pollution Control Boa rd (CPCB)had issued directions on 21.04.2015 to t State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs)/Pollution Control Committees (PCCs) in the country Water  (Prevention  and  Control  of  Pollution)  Act,  1974  for  collection,  transportation  and sewage generated in urban areas in their respective States. CPCB also issued directions o under  Environment  (Protection)  Act,  1986  to  local  authorities  of  metropolitan  cities,  St towns  along  river  Ganga  to  ensure  proper  treatment  & disposal  of  sewage  in  accordance  with  th stipulated standards.

CPCB , SPCBs and alsi PCCs monitor industries regularly with respect to effluent standards and take action for non -compliance under provisions of Environment (Protection) Act, 19 86 and Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974.

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(d) & (e) CPCB have also informed that based on water quality monitoring of river Ganga bein out for pre as well as lockdown period and studies conducted by them, SPCBs and other a gencies to assess the  impact  of  lockdown  on  the  water  quality  of  river  Ganga  and  its  tributaries,  no  defi observed  in  different  water  quality  parameters  for  various  stretches  of  river  Ganga  and However, varying degrees of imp rovement in a few water quality parameters has been observed a CPCB & SPCB reports along various stretches of river Ganga and its tributaries, which may b to various factors like increased availability of water due to rainfall in the river catchment, no industrial effluent  discharge  and  reduced  human  activity  such  as  restriction  on  bathing,  restricted waste dumping, washing of clothes, etc.

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