Lok Sabha Question No. 5535 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-07-26
Subject: Pollution in Rivers of Andhra Pradesh
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Lavu Sri Krishna Devarayalu

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5535

TO BE ANSWERED ON 26.07.2019

## Pollution in Rivers of Andhra Pradesh

5535. SHRI LAVU SRI KRISHNA DEVARAYALU:

Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state:

- (a)   the mechanism to check river pollution in Andhra Pradesh;
- (b)  whether inspite of steps taken to check pollution, there is an abnormal increase of pollution in rivers in Andhra Pradesh;
- (c)    if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;
- (d)   the major pollutants flowing into rivers and steps taken to contain such effluents from entering into rivers and lakes;
- (e)        whether  any  special  emphasis  is  proposed  in  the  current  budget  for  checking pollution; and
- (f)     if so, the details thereof along with the allocations made for this purpose?

## ANSWER

MINISTER  OF  STATE  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI BABUL SUPRIYO)

- (a)  to  (d)    Pollution  load  in  rivers  has  increased  over  the  years  due  to  discharge  of untreated/partially treated domestic and industrial effluent as result of rapid urbanization and industrialization. Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) in association  with  the  State  Pollution  Control  Boards  (SPCBs)  is  monitoring  the  water quality of rivers on a regular basis including Andhra Pradesh. As per report of CPCB published in September 2018, five polluted stretches on rivers namely: Kundu (Nandyal to  Madduru),Tungabhadra  (Manthralayam  to  Bavapuram),  Godavari  (Rayanpeta  to Rajahmundry), Krishna (Amravathi to Hamsala Deevi), and Nagavali (Along

Thotapalli),have  been  identified  in  Andhra  Pradesh,  based  on  Bio-chemical  Oxygen Demand (BOD) level in rivers (a key indicator of organic pollution).

This  Ministry  supplements  the  efforts  of  the  State  Governments  by  providing financial  assistance  for  taking  up  works  relating  to    interception  &  diversion  of  raw sewage, laying of sewer lines, setting up of sewage treatment plants, low cost sanitation facilities,  improved  wood crematoria, river front/bathing ghat development, etc. Project proposals  are  received  from  the  State  Governments  from  time  to  time  for  taking  up pollution abatement works in towns along various rivers, and are considered for financial assistance  under  the  NRCP  subject  to  their  conformity  with  the  scheme  guidelines, pollution  status,  prioritization,  appraisal  by  independent  institutions  and  availability  of Plan funds.

Under NRCP, for pollution abatement of river Godavari at Rajahmundry town in Andhra  Pradesh,  schemes  pertaining  to  interception  &  diversion  of  sewage,  sewage treatment plant, low cost sanitation, river front development and crematoria have been implemented at a sanctioned cost of Rs. 21.79 crore and sewage treatment capacity of 30 mld (million litres per day) has been created in the town under the NRCP.

Further,  under  National  Plan  for  Conservation  of  Aquatic  Eco-systems(NPCA), Ministry has so far released an amount of  Rs. 249.57 lakhs to the State Government for  conservation of  Kolleru lake in  Andhra  Pardsesh for various activities undertaken like  eco-development,  eco  tourism,  removal  of  weeds,  catchment  area  treatment, monitoring, public awareness, etc.

To ensure proper treatment of municipal sewage before discharge into the rivers, CPCB has issued directions under Section 18 1(b) of the Water (Prevention and Control of  Pollution)  Act,  1974  to  all  the  SPCBs/Pollution  Control  Committees  (PCCs)  in  the country, including Andhra Pradesh, regarding setting up of sewage treatment plants in their respective States. CPCB has also issued directions in October, 2015 to municipal authorities of 184 towns (66 metropolitan cities and State capitals + towns along Ganga) under  Section  5  of  the  Environment  (Protection)  Act,  1986  for  proper  treatment  and disposal of sewage generated to control pollution in rivers.

(e) & (f)   A budget allocation of Rs.196.00 crore has been made in the current financial year  for  taking  up  river  pollution  abatement  works  against  sanctioned  projects  in various States under  NRCP.  However, no proposal has been received from Government of Andhra Pradesh for financial assistance for pollution abatement works for identified polluted river stretches under the NRCP scheme.

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