Lok Sabha Question No. 262 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-02-03
Subject: Pollution in Rivers
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Jyotirmay Singh Mahato, Riti Pathak, Jugal Kishore Sharma, Ramesh Chander Kaushik, Sukhbir Singh Jaunapuria, Dileshwar Kamait

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI,

## DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT & GANGA REJUVENATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. † 262

ANSWERED ON 03.02.2022

## POLLUTION IN RIVERS

†262. SHRI JYOTIRMAY SINGH MAHATO SHRIMATI RITI PATHAK SHRI JUGAL KISHORE S SHRI RAMESH CHANDER KAUSHIK SHRI DILESHWAR KAMAIT

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

(a)  whether  factors  responsible  for  increasing  water  pollution  during  festivals  in  various  rivers  of  the country including in West Bengal and Yamuna river in Delhi have been identified and if so, the details thereof;

- (b) whether any guidelines or advisory have been issued by the Government to the States in this regard and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether any increase or decrease in pollution level in Yamuna river has been witnessed during the last three years and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether any steps have been taken by the Government of Delhi in this regard and if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) the details of the funds allocated and utilized for this purpose?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI (SHRI BISHWESWAR TUDU)

(a)  to  (c)     Rivers  in  the  country  are  polluted  due  to  discharge  of  untreated  and  partially  treated  sewage  from cities/towns  and  industrial  effluents  in  their  respective  catchments,  problems  in  operation  and  maintenance  of sewage/effluent treatment plants, lack of dilution and other non-point sources of pollution. It is the responsibility of the  States/Union  Territories  (UTs),  Local  Bodies  and  Industrial  Units  to  ensure  required  treatment  of  sewage, industrial effluents to the prescribed norms before discharging into rivers and other water bodies, coastal waters or land and prohibit dumping of puja materials & other items of religious offerings to prevent and control of pollution therein.

As per the Provisions of Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 and  the Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution), Act 1974, industrial units are required to install effluent treatment plants (ETPs) and treat their effluents to comply with  stipulated  environmental  standards  before  discharging  into  river  and  water  bodies.  Accordingly,  Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs)/Pollution Control Committees (PCCs) monitor industries with respect to effluent discharge standards and take action for non-compliance under provisions of these Acts.

CPCB has issued guidelines for idol immersion and disposal of other puja materials during festivals and Hon'ble National Green  Tribunal  (NGT)  directed  respective  District Magistrates and  other Authorities to  ensure implementation of guidelines of CPCB to curb pollution due to immersion of idols in rivers and water bodies. In addition,  National  Mission  for  Clean  Ganga  (NMCG)  has  also  issued  directions  under  Section  5  of  the Environment  (Protection)  Act,  1986  regarding  the  immersion  of  idols  in  rivers  and  water  bodies  on  festive occasions, directions have been issued to States/UTs for restricting idol immersion into rivers and water bodies during festivals like Ganesh Chaturthi, Durga Puja, Deepawali, Chat Puja, Viswakarma Puja, etc. as these causes pollution/contamination  of  water  leading  to  deterioration  in  the  quality  of  water  in  rivers,  water  bodies  besides having harmful effect on aquatic life.

Besides,  in  compliance  of  the  orders  of  NGT  in  Original  Application  No.673/2018  regarding  rejuvenation  of polluted  river  stretches  in  the  country,  States/UTs  are  required  to  implement  approved  action  plans,  including installation  of  wastewater  treatment  plants,  for  restoration  of  the  polluted  river  stretches  in  their  jurisdiction  as identified by CPCB and published in their report of 2018, within the stipulated timelines. As per the orders of NGT, regular review on implementation of action plans is undertaken in the States/UTs and also at Central level.

Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) has been conducting periodic sampling of major drains (24 nos.) out falling in river Yamuna and at various locations (8 nos.) in the stretch of river Yamuna. CPCB in association with various SPCBs/PCCs have been monitoring the water quality of rivers and other water bodies across the country through a network of monitoring stations under the National Water Quality Monitoring Programme. As per the last report  published  by  CPCB  in  September  2018,  351  polluted  stretches  have  been  identified  on  323  rivers  in  the country  based on  monitoring  results  in  terms  of  Bio-chemical  Oxygen  Demand  (BOD),  an  indicator  of  organic pollution. This report of CPCB includes the stretches of river Yamuna in Delhi, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh which are as below:

| River   | State         | Polluted River Stretches                             | Priority   | BOD Range (mg/l)   |
|---------|---------------|------------------------------------------------------|------------|--------------------|
| Yamuna  | Delhi         | Along Wazirabad to Asagpur                           | I          | 9-80               |
| Yamuna  | Haryana       | Panipat to Sonepat                                   | I          | 4-55               |
| Yamuna  | Uttar Pradesh | Asgarpur to Etawah Shahpur to Allahabad (Balua Ghat) | I          | 12-55              |

(d) & (e) Under Namami Gange Programme, 23 projects amounting to Rs.4290 crore for creating/rehabilitation of 1840 mld capacity sewage treatment plants (STP) have been sanctioned in Yamuna river basin. These 23 projects are  spread  over  Himachal  Pradesh  (1  project),  Haryana  (2  projects),  Delhi  (12  projects  includes  consultancy  & public outreach project) and Uttar Pradesh (8 projects). Out of these 23 projects, 6 projects have been completed. Till December 2021, National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) has utilized an amount of Rs. 1593.32 crore for all the 23 projects for river Yamuna.

In addition, Delhi Jal Board is also undertaking works such as capacity augmentation, improvement in treatment effluent  parameters,  laying  of  sewer  network,  construction  of  decentralized  STPs,  sewer  interceptor,  Septage Management  and  tapping  of  drains  directly  out  falling  into  Yamuna  river  through  the  Yamuna  Cleaning  Cell (YCC) to improve quality of river water of Yamuna.

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