Lok Sabha Question No. 4668 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-03-31
Subject: Filling up of Urban Aquifiers
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: S. Gnanathiraviam

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4668

ANSWERED ON 31.03.2022

## FILLING UP OF URBAN AQUIFIERS

## 4668.  SHRI GNANATHIRAVIAM S.

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

(a) whether it is a fact that urban aquifers (underground reservoirs) that are recharged by abused rivers are filled with sewage and that water is later pumped up by domestic borewells and if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether it is also fact that thirteen major rivers of the country make up eighty per cent of the total surface water and their basins are home to nearly eighty five per cent of the population and the water in these rivers, particularly near towns and industrial belts, are feeding place for bacteria and if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether the Government has conducted any study in this regard; and

(d) if so, the details thereof and the action proposed to be taken to clean these rivers?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI

## (SHRI BISHWESWAR TUDU)

(a) Central  Ground  Water  Board  (CGWB)  generates  ground  water  quality  data  on  a  regional  scale during  various  scientific  studies  and  ground  water  quality  monitoring  throughout  the  country.  These studies indicate the occurrence of Salinity, Fluoride, Arsenic, Nitrate, Iron and Heavy Metals beyond the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) permissible limits in isolated pockets in various parts of the country. The ground water contamination reported by CGWB is mostly geogenic in nature and does not show significant change over the years. However, nitrate contamination is mostly anthropogenic and its spread has been notices in some areas, particularly areas adjoining habitations. Nitrate contamination can also be caused by excessive use of fertilizers. High Salinity has been reported from 248 districts in 18 States, Fluoride beyond permissible limit has been encountered from 370 districts in 23 States, Nitrate from 423 districts in 23 States, Arsenic from 152 districts in 21 States, Iron from 341 districts in 27 States, Lead from 92 districts in 14 States, Cadmium from 24 districts in 9 States and Chromium from 29 districts in 10 States. State-wise details of contamination of ground water is given at Annexure-I.

(b) to (d) As per the study 'Reassessment of Water Availability in India using Space Inputs, 2019' by Central Water Commission (CWC), the average annual water resource of all the 20 basins of the country has  been  assessed  as  1999.20  Billion  Cubic  Meters  (BCM).  The  basin-wise  water  availability  and estimated population for the years 2025 and 2050 have been shown in Annexure-II .

Central  Pollution  Control  Board  (CPCB)  in  association  with  the  State  Pollution  Control Boards/Committees in different States/Union Territories (UTs) have been monitoring the water quality of  rivers  and  other  water  bodies  through  a  network  of monitoring  stations  under  the  National  Water Quality  Monitoring  Programme. Based  on  water  quality  monitoring  results,  pollution  assessment  of rivers has been carried out by CPCB from time to time. As per the last report published by CPCB in

September  2018,  351  polluted  stretches  were  identified  on  323  rivers  based  on monitoring  results  in terms of Bio-chemical Oxygen Demand (BOD), an indicator of organic pollution.

Cleaning/rejuvenation of rivers is a continuous process. It is the responsibility of the States/UTs, local bodies and industrial units to ensure required treatment of sewage and industrial effluents to the prescribed norms before discharging into river and other water bodies, coastal waters or land to prevent and control of pollution therein. For conservation of rivers, this Ministry has been supplementing efforts of the States/UTs by providing financial and technical assistance for abatement of pollution in identified stretches  of  rivers  in  the  country  through  the  Central  Sector  Scheme  of  Namami  Gange  for  rivers  in Ganga  basin  and  the  Centrally  Sponsored  Scheme  of  National  River  Conservation  Plan  (NRCP)  for other rivers.

Proposals for pollution abatement works in the towns along polluted river stretches are received from the  States/UTs  from  time  to  time  for  consideration  under  NRCP  and  sanctioned  based  on  their prioritization,  conformity  with  NRCP  guidelines,  availability  of  plan  funds,  etc.  NRCP  has  so  far covered polluted stretches on 34 rivers in 77 towns spread over 16 States in the country with the project sanctioned cost of Rs.6050.18 crore, and inter-alia ,  a  sewage treatment capacity of 2677 million litres per day (mld) has been created. Under Namami Gange programme, a total of 36 projects, including 160 projects for sewage treatment of 5024 mld and sewer network of 5227 kms., have been sanctioned at a cost of Rs.30853 crore.

In addition, sewerage infrastructure is created under programs like Atal Mission for Rejuvenation & Urban Transformation (AMRUT) and Smart Cities Mission of Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs.

As per the Provisions of Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 and 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, CPCB,  State  Pollution  Control  Boards/Pollution  Control  Committees  monitor industries  with  respect  to  effluent  discharge  standards  and  take  action  for  non-compliance  under provisions of these Acts.

Besides, in compliance of the orders of National Green Tribunal (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  for  restoration  of  the  polluted  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.

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## ANNEXURE  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PART  (a)  OF  LOK  SABHA  UNSTARRED QUESTION  NO.  4668  TO  BE  ANSWERED  ON  THE  31 ST   MARCH,  2022  REGARDING FILLING UP OF URBAN AQUIFIERS

## States Wise Number of Partly Affected Districts with different Contaminants in Ground Water of India

| S. No.   | State/ UT         | Salinity (EC above 3000 micro mhos/ cm) (EC: Electrical Conductivity)   | Fluoride (Above 1.5 mg/l)                | Nitrate (Above 45 mg/l)                  | Arsenic (Above 0.01 mg/l)                | Iron (Above 1mg/l)                       | Lead (Above 0.01 mg/l)                   | Cadmium (Above 0.003 mg/l)              | Chromium (Above 0.05 mg/l)              |
|----------|-------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------|
| 1        | Andhra Pradesh    | 12                                                                      | 12                                       | 13                                       | 3                                        | 7                                        |                                          |                                         |                                         |
| 2        | Telangana         | 8                                                                       | 10                                       | 10                                       | 1                                        | 8                                        | 2                                        | 1                                       | 1                                       |
| 3        | Assam             |                                                                         | 9                                        |                                          | 19                                       | 18                                       |                                          |                                         |                                         |
| 4        | Arunachal Pradesh |                                                                         |                                          |                                          |                                          | 4                                        |                                          |                                         |                                         |
| 5        | Bihar             |                                                                         | 13                                       | 10                                       | 22                                       | 19                                       |                                          |                                         |                                         |
| 6        | Chhattisgarh      | 1                                                                       | 19                                       | 12                                       | 1                                        | 17                                       | 1                                        | 1                                       | 1                                       |
| 7        | Delhi             | 7                                                                       | 7                                        | 8                                        | 2                                        |                                          | 3                                        | 1                                       | 4                                       |
| 8        | Goa               |                                                                         |                                          |                                          |                                          | 2                                        |                                          |                                         |                                         |
| 9        | Gujarat           | 21                                                                      | 22                                       | 24                                       | 12                                       | 10                                       |                                          |                                         |                                         |
| 10       | Haryana           | 18                                                                      | 21                                       | 21                                       | 15                                       | 17                                       | 17                                       | 7                                       | 1                                       |
| 11       | Himachal Pradesh  |                                                                         |                                          | 6                                        | 1                                        |                                          |                                          |                                         |                                         |
| 12       | Jammu & Kashmir   |                                                                         | 2                                        | 6                                        | 3                                        | 9                                        | 3                                        | 1                                       |                                         |
| 13       | Jharkhand         |                                                                         | 12                                       | 11                                       | 2                                        | 6                                        | 1                                        |                                         |                                         |
| 14       | Karnataka         | 29                                                                      | 30                                       | 29                                       | 2                                        | 22                                       |                                          |                                         |                                         |
| 15       | Kerala            | 4                                                                       | 5                                        | 11                                       |                                          | 14                                       | 2                                        |                                         | 1                                       |
| 16       | Madhya Pradesh    | 18                                                                      | 43                                       | 51                                       | 8                                        | 41                                       | 16                                       |                                         |                                         |
| 17       | Maharashtra       | 25                                                                      | 17                                       | 30                                       |                                          | 20                                       | 19                                       |                                         |                                         |
| 18       | Manipur           |                                                                         | 1                                        |                                          | 2                                        | 4                                        |                                          |                                         |                                         |
| 19       | Meghalaya         |                                                                         | 1                                        |                                          |                                          | 6                                        |                                          |                                         |                                         |
| 20       | Nagaland          |                                                                         | 1                                        |                                          |                                          | 1                                        |                                          |                                         |                                         |
| 21       | Odisha            | 17                                                                      | 26                                       | 28                                       | 1                                        | 30                                       |                                          |                                         | 1                                       |
| 22       | Punjab            | 10                                                                      | 19                                       | 21                                       | 10                                       | 9                                        | 6                                        | 8                                       | 10                                      |
| 23       | Rajasthan         | 30                                                                      | 33                                       | 33                                       | 1                                        | 33                                       | 3                                        |                                         |                                         |
| 24       | Tamil Nadu        | 27                                                                      | 25                                       | 29                                       | 9                                        | 2                                        | 3                                        | 1                                       | 5                                       |
| 25       | Tripura           |                                                                         |                                          |                                          |                                          | 4                                        |                                          |                                         |                                         |
| 26       | Uttar Pradesh     | 13                                                                      | 34                                       | 59                                       | 28                                       | 15                                       | 10                                       | 2                                       | 3                                       |
| 27       | Uttarakhand       |                                                                         |                                          | 4                                        |                                          | 5                                        |                                          |                                         |                                         |
| 28       | West Bengal       | 6                                                                       | 8                                        | 5                                        | 9                                        | 16                                       | 6                                        | 2                                       | 2                                       |
| 29       | Andaman& Nicobar  | 1                                                                       |                                          |                                          |                                          | 2                                        |                                          |                                         |                                         |
| 30       | Daman &Diu        | 1                                                                       |                                          | 1                                        | 1                                        |                                          |                                          |                                         |                                         |
| 31       | Puducherry        |                                                                         |                                          | 1                                        |                                          |                                          |                                          |                                         |                                         |
|          | Total             | Parts of 248 districts in 18 states &UTs                                | Parts of 370 districts in 23 states& UTs | Parts of 423 districts in 23 states& UTs | Parts of 152 districts in 21 states& UTs | Parts of 341 districts in 27 states& UTs | Pb in parts of 92 districts in 14 states | Cd in parts of 24 districts in 9 states | Cr in parts of 29districts in 10 states |

## ANNEXURE  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (b)  TO  (d)  OF  LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4668 TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 31.03.2022 REGARDING FILLING UP OF URBAN AQUIFIERS

Water Resources Availability and Estimated Population in India for year 2025 & 2050

| Sl No.   | River Basin                                                | Average Annual Water Resource Potential (BCM) *   | Estimated Population (Million) **   | Estimated Population (Million) **   |
|----------|------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------|-------------------------------------|
|          |                                                            |                                                   | 2025                                | 2050                                |
| (1)      | (2)                                                        | (3)                                               | (4)                                 | (5)                                 |
| 1.       | Indus (Up to Border)                                       | 45.53                                             | 69.2                                | 81.41                               |
| 2.       | Ganga- Brahmaputra-Meghna                                  |                                                   |                                     |                                     |
|          | (a). Ganga                                                 | 509.52                                            | 593.04                              | 697.69                              |
|          | (b). Brahmaputra                                           | 527.28                                            | 48.06                               | 56.54                               |
|          | (c). Barak &Others                                         | 86.67                                             | 10.24                               | 12.05                               |
| 3.       | Godavari                                                   | 117.74                                            | 89.18                               | 104.92                              |
| 4.       | Krishna                                                    | 89.04                                             | 100.41                              | 118.13                              |
| 5.       | Cauvery                                                    | 27.67                                             | 48.39                               | 56.93                               |
| 6.       | Subarnarekha                                               | 15.05                                             | 15.52                               | 18.26                               |
| 7.       | Brahmini &Baitarani                                        | 35.65                                             | 16.18                               | 19.04                               |
| 8.       | Mahanadi                                                   | 73                                                | 43.93                               | 51.68                               |
| 9.       | Pennar                                                     | 11.02                                             | 16.02                               | 18.85                               |
| 10.      | Mahi                                                       | 14.96                                             | 17.34                               | 20.4                                |
| 11.      | Sabarmati                                                  | 12.96                                             | 17.34                               | 20.4                                |
| 12.      | Narmada                                                    | 58.21                                             | 24.28                               | 28.56                               |
| 13.      | Tapi                                                       | 26.24                                             | 24.44                               | 28.75                               |
| 14.      | West Flowing river from Tapi to Tadri                      | 118.35                                            | 42.61                               | 50.13                               |
| 15.      | West flowing rivers from Tadri to Kanyakumari              | 119.06                                            | 53.84                               | 63.34                               |
| 16.      | East flowing rivers between Mahanadi and Pennar            | 26.41                                             | 38.97                               | 45.85                               |
| 17.      | East flowing rivers between Pennar and Kannyakumari        | 26.74                                             | 74.32                               | 87.43                               |
| 18       | West flowing rivers of Kutch and Saurashtra including Luni | 26.93                                             | 36.5                                | 42.94                               |
| 19.      | Area of Island drainage in Rajasthan                       |                                                   | 11.73                               | 13.79                               |
| 20.      | Minor River Draining into Myanmar (Burma) &Bangladesh      | 31.17                                             | 2.48                                | 2.91                                |
|          | TOTAL                                                      | 1999.2                                            | 1394.02                             | 1640                                |

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