Lok Sabha Question No. 5233 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-04-03
Subject: Dumping Garbage in River Banks
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Saikia Dilip, Ranjeetsingh Naik Nimbalkar, Naranbhai Bhikhabhai Kachhadiya

## 5233.

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.5233

TO BE ANSWERED ON 03.04.2023

## Dumping Garbage in River Banks

SHRI DILIP SAIKIA: SHRI RANJEETSINGH NAIK NIMBALKAR: SHRI NARANBHAI KACHHADIYA:

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

- (a) whether the Government is committed to save the all river banks in the country especially  Brahmaputra  in  North  East,  Mula  Mutha  and  Chandrabhaga  in Maharashtra and Narmada in Gujarat from dumping of garbage;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether  the National Green  Tribunal  has issued fresh instructions to the Empowered Committee to submit a comprehensive proposal to develop these river banks as pollution-free eco-friendly sites; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

(SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)

- (a) to (d)

Water  is  a  state  subject.  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  standards  before  discharging  into  water  bodies,  seas  or  land  to  prevent  and control of pollution therein. Cleaning and rejuvenation of rivers is an ongoing activities. For conservation of rivers, Ministry of Jal Shakti supplements 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 NamamiGange for rivers in Ganga  basin and the Centrally Sponsored Scheme  of National River Conservation Plan (NRCP) for other rivers.

Proposal  for  pollution  abatement  works  in  the  towns  along  polluted  river  stretches  are received from the State/UTs from time to time for consideration under the NRCP, and sanctioned based on their prioritization, conformity with NRCP guidelines, availability of funds,  etc.    Assistance  is  provided  to  State  Governments  for  abatement  of  pollution  in identified stretches of various rivers (excluding river Ganga and its tributaries) under the Centrally  Sponsored  Scheme  of  National  River  Conservation  Plan  (NRCP)  on  cost sharing basis between the Central & State Governments for taking up various pollution abatement  works  relating  to  interception  &  diversion  of  raw  sewage,  construction  of sewerage  systems,  setting  up  of  sewage  treatment  plants,  low  cost  sanitation,  river front/bathing ghat development, etc.

For rejuvenation of 351 polluted river stretches identified by CPCB during the year 2018, action plans were prepared by River Rejuvenation Committee (RRC) constituted by the respective  State  Government/  UT  Administration,  under  the  overall  supervision  and coordination of Principal Secretary, Environment of the concerned State /Union Territory for bringing all the polluted river stretches identified by CPCB fit for bathing purposes.

Prepared action plans cover aspects such as Source control (Municipal sewage management,  Industrial  pollution  control,  Waste  management),  River  catchment/Basin Management  (Adoption  of  good  irrigation  practices,  Utilization  of  treated  sewage, Ground  water  recharge  aspects),  Flood  Plain  Zone  protection  and  its  management (Setting  up  of  bio-diversity  parks,  Removal  of  encroachments,  Rain  water  harvesting, Plantation  on  both  sides  of  the  river),  Ecological/Environmental  Flow  (E-Flow)  and Watershed management.

Implementation  of  time-bound  action  plans  for  rejuvenation  of  polluted  river  stretches have been assigned to State Government Departments/ UT Administration Departments under the overall supervision and coordination of Principal Secretary, Environment of the concerned  State/Union  Territory.  Overall  responsibility  lies  with  the  Chief  Secretary, State Governments/UT Administrations.

Progress of implementation of action plans is reviewed by the RRC at State Level and Central Monitoring Committee (CMC) constituted under the Chairmanship of Secretary, Ministry of Jal Shakti at Central Level.

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