Lok Sabha Question No. 2806 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-08-05
Subject: Pollution Level in Water Bodies
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Aparajita Sarangi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI,

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2806

ANSWERED ON 05.08 .2021

## POLLUTION LEVEL IN W ATER BODIES

## 2806      SHRIMATI APARAJITA SARANGI

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

(a)  whether  the  Government  has  conducted  studies  to  estimate  the  pollution  levels  in  w including rivers in Odisha;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether the Government has also estima ted the toxic chemicals and effluents found in water b including their bad effects on the health of the residents of Odisha;

- (d) if so, the measures taken by the Government to monitor pollution of water bodies; and

(e) the action taken by the Govern ment to prevent pollution of water bodies especially in the back Covid- 19?

## ANSWER

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

## ( SHRI PRAHLAD SINGH PATEL )

(a) & (b) Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) in association with Pollution C Boards/Committees in different States/Union Territories (UTs) have been monitoring the water quality of rivers and other water bodies, including in the state of Odisha, th rough a network of 4294 monitoring stations under the National Water Quality Monitoring Programme. Of these 4294 monitoring monitoring is done at 344 locations in Odisha, including rivers (133 nos.), lakes (7 nos.), canals  (9  nos .),  drains  (94  nos.),  ground  water  (90  nos.)  and  sewage  treatment  plants nos.). Based on water quality monitoring results, pollution assessment of rivers has been ca 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. Of these 351 stretches, 19 polluted stretch identified in Odisha a s per details given at Annexure .

(c)  &  (d) Central  Water  Commission  (CWC)  is  also  carrying  out  water  quality  monitoring locations covering all important/major rivers in the country and had published a report on 'Status of trace and toxic metals i n Indian rivers' in August, 2019. As per the analysis of data for the period May, 2014 to April,  2018  at  424  water  quality  stations,  it  was  found  that  137  water  quality  station acceptable limits with respect to toxic metalsaccordingto BIS:10500 - 2012. 101 stations were found

beyond acceptable limits with respect to more than one toxic metal, only Iron concentratio beyond acceptable limit at 156 stations, presence of Cadmium was found beyond acceptable stations, presence of Chromium was observed at 6 stations, p resence of Nickel was found at 9 stations a Lead  contamination  was  observed  at  12  stations.  Arsenic  and  Zinc  concentrations  were  fou acceptable limits as per the BIS, and no toxicity with respect to Arsenic and Zinc was observ water during the study period.

(e) Rivers in the country are polluted mainly due to discharge of untreated or partially t from  cities/towns  and  industrial  effluents  in  their  respective  catchments. It  is he  responsibility  of  th States/Uni on Territories (UTs) and local bodies to ensure treatment of sewage and industrial the  prescribed  norms  before  discharging  into  rivers,  water  bodies  or  land  to  prevent  an pollution therein.

Based on the assessment of water quality, various measures are being taken both by the Ce and the State Governments to prevent pollution of rivers. River cleaning is a continuous process and t Central  Government  assists  the  State  Governments  and  urban  local  bodies  through  the  sc mes  of 'Namami Gange' and National River Conservation Plan (NRCP) of Ministry of Jal Shakti. NRCP has so far  covered  polluted  stretches  on  34  rivers  in  77  towns  spread  over  16  States  in  the  co sanctioned cost of projects as Rs.5965.90 crore, and sewage treatment capacity of 2522.03 MLD created. Under Namami Gange programme, a total of 346 projects, including 158 projects for sewage tre 4948  MLD  and  sewer  network  of  5213  kms.,  have  been  sanctioned  at  a  cost  of  Rs.30235  cr additi on, sewerage infrastructure is also created under programs like Atal Mission for Reju Urban  Transformation  (AMRUT),  Smart  Cities  Mission  of  Ministry  of  Housing  &  Urban  Affair National Plan for Conservation of Aquatic Ecosystems (NPCA) progra mme of Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change.

Discharge of industrial effluents is monitored by CPCB and the respective State Pollut Boards/Pollution Control Committees through the provisions of the Environment (Protection) and the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974.

Besides, in compliance of the orders of National Green Tribunal (NGT) in Original Ap (OA) No.673/2018 regarding polluted river stretches in the country, States/UTs are required mplement action plans for restoration of the said stretches in their jurisdiction within the stipulat the orders of NGT, regular review is undertaken in the States/UTs and also at Central level.

In addition, CPCB has in July, 2020 issu ed 'Guidelines for Handling, Treatment and Disposal of Waste Generated during Treatment/Diagnosis/ Quarantine of COVID -19 Patients', which does not permit disposal of bio - medical waste, including used masks and gloves, into the water bodies.

*****

Annexure referred to in reply to part (a) & (b ) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 2806 to be answered on the 05/08/ 2021 regarding ' POLLUTION LEVEL IN W ATER BODIES ' .

## Details of Polluted River Stretches identified in Odisha

|   S NO | NAME OF RIVER   | IDENTIFIED STRETCH           | BOD RANGE/ MAX VALUE (MG/L)   | PRIORITY CLASS   |
|--------|-----------------|------------------------------|-------------------------------|------------------|
|      1 | GANGUA          | D/S BHUWANESHWAR             | 14- 39                        | I                |
|      2 | GURADIH NALLAH  | ALONG ROURKELA               | 11.3                          | III              |
|      3 | KATHAJODI       | CUTTACK TO URALI             | 5.8 - 11.2                    | III              |
|      4 | NANDIRAJHOR     | D/S TALCHER                  | 2.7-13                        | III              |
|      5 | DAYA            | BHUBANESWAR TO BARAGARH      | 4.0 - 7.3                     | IV               |
|      6 | KUAKHAI         | URALI TO BHUBANESWAR         | 6.7 - 7.7                     | IV               |
|      7 | BANGURU NALLAH  | ALONG TALCHER RENGALI        | 3.2                           | V                |
|      8 | BHEDEN          | ALONG BHEDEN                 | 3.6                           | V                |
|      9 | BRAHAMANI       | ROURKELA TO BIRITOL          | 5.8 - 6.0                     | V                |
|     10 | BUDHABALNAGA    | MAHULIA TOBARIPADA           | 3.5                           | V                |
|     11 | KUSUMI          | ALONG ANGUL TALCHER          | 3.2                           | V                |
|     12 | MAHANADI        | SAMBALPUR TO PARADEEP        | 3.6                           | V                |
|     13 | MANGALA         | ALONG PURI                   | 5.7                           | V                |
|     14 | NAGAVALLI       | JAYKAYPUR TO RAYAGADA        | 3.5                           | V                |
|     15 | NUNA            | ALONG BIJIPUR, PURI          | 3.1                           | V                |
|     16 | RATNACHIRA      | ALONG BHUBHNESHWAR, PURI     | 3.3                           | V                |
|     17 | RUSHIKULYA      | PRATAPPUR TO GANJAM          | 3.4                           | V                |
|     18 | SABULIA         | ALONG JAGANNATHPATNA, RAMBHA | 5.0                           | V                |
|     19 | SERUA           | KHANDAETA TO SANKHATRASA     | 4.8                           | V                |

*****