Lok Sabha Question No. 2763 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-08-05
Subject: Improvement in Quality of Water
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Mitesh Rameshbhai (Bakabhai) Patel, Shardaben Anilbhai Patel

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.

## †2763 ANSWERED ON 05.08 .2021

## IMPROVEMENT IN QUALI TY OF WATER

## †2763. SHRI MITESH RAMESHBHAI PATEL (BAKABHAI) SHRIMATI SHARDABEN ANILBHAI PATEL

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

(a) whether it is a fact that there has been extreme improvement in the quality of water in the country due to lockdown in the month of May and June, 2020;

(b) if so, the details thereof; and

(c) the steps being taken to ensure maintaining the improvement in the quality of water in fu

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI & FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES

## ( SHRI PRAHLAD SINGH PATEL )

(a) to (c) As informed by Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), water quality monitoring of conducted  by  the  State  Pollution  Control  Boards  (SPCBs)/Pollution  Control  Committees  (PCC March  & April,  2020  to  assess  the  impact  of  lockdown  due  to  Covid - 19  pandemic  in  the  country.  The exercise  was  undertaken  on  19  major  rivers  namely  Beas,  Brahmputra,  Baitarni,  Brahmani, Chambal,  Ganga,  Ghaggar,  Godavari,  Krishna,  Mahanadi,  Mahi,  Narmada, Pennar,  Sabarmati,  Satluj, Swarnrekha,  Tapi  and  Yamuna.  The  assessment  was  based  on  monitoring  of  parameters  name Dissolved  Oxygen  (DO),  Bio - chemical  Oxygen  Demand  (BOD)  and  Fecal  Coliform,  as  stipulated Primary  Water  Quality  Criteria  for  outdoor bathing  notified  by  the  Central  Government  under Environment (Protection) Rules, 1986.

Based  on  monitoring  results,  some  of  the  rivers  (Brahmani,  Brahmputra,  Cauvery, Krishna, Tapi and Yamuna) showed improvement in water quality which could be attributed to minima industrial  effluent  discharge,  no  human  and/or  anthropogenic  activities,  cattle  movem perceptible  improvement  was  observed  in  case  of  Beas,  Chambal,  Satluj  and  Swarnrekha  riv various  stretches  of Ganga  and  its  tributaries,  varying  degrees  of  improvement  in  a  few  wate parameters was observed, which may be attributed to increased availability of fresh water d the catchment area and reduction in human and/or anthropogenic act ivities. In case of Sabarmati and Ma rivers, water quality remained unchanged. As such, no definite trend was observed to substant of lockdown.

CPCB in association with the SPCBs/PCCs is regularly monitoring water quality of river water bodies in the country through a network of monitoring stations under the National Monitoring  Programme.  As  the  CPCB  report  of  S eptember,  2018,  351  polluted  river  stretches identified on 323 rivers based on monitoring results in terms of BOD, an indicator of organic

Rivers in the country are polluted mainly due to discharge of untreated or partially from  cities/towns  and  industrial  effluents  in  their  respective  catchments. It  is  the  responsibility  of States/Union Territories (UTs) and local bodies to ensure treatment of sewage and industrial prescribed norms before discharging int o rivers, water bodies or land to prevent and control of therein.

Based on the assessment of water quality, various measures are being taken both by the the State Governments to prevent pollution of rivers. River cleaning is a conti nuous process and the Central Government assists the State Governments and urban local bodies through the schemes of 'Namami Gange' and National River Conservation Plan (NRCP) of Ministry of Jal Shakti. NRCP has so far covered polluted stretches on 34 rive rs in 77 towns spread over 16 States in the country with the sanctioned cost Rs.5965.90  crore,  and  sewage  treatment  capacity  of  2522.03  MLD  created.  Under  Namami programme, a total of 346 projects, including 158 projects for sewage tre atment of 4948 MLD and sewer network of 5213 kms., have been sanctioned at a cost of Rs.30235 crore. In addition, sewerage infrastructu is  created  under  programs  like  Atal  Mission  for  Rejuvenation  &  Urban  Transformation  (AMR Smart Cities Mission o f Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs.

Discharge of industrial effluents is monitored by CPCB and the respective SPCBs/PCCs t provisions of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 and the Water (Prevention and Control Act, 1974. Bes ides, in compliance of the orders of National Green Tribunal (NGT) in Original (OA) No.673/2018 regarding polluted river stretches in the country, States/UTs are required action plans for restoration of the said stretches in their juri diction within the stipulated timelines. the orders of NGT, regular review is undertaken in the States/UTs and also at Central level.

In  addition,  CPCB  has  devised  the  Guidelines  for  Handling,  Treatment  and  Disposal Generated during T reatment/Diagnosis/ Quarantine of COVID - 19  Patients  issued  in  July,  2020  does permit disposal of bio - medical waste including used masks and gloves into the water bodies.

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