Lok Sabha Question No. 3198 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-12-16
Subject: Rejuvenation of Rivers
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Sudarshan Bhagat

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. †3198 ANSWERED ON 16.12.2021

## REJUVENATION OF RIVERS

## †3198.          SHRI SUDARSHAN BHAGAT

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government has rejuvenated rivers of the country during the last five years;

(b) if so, the details thereof; and

(c) if not, the reasons therefor?

## 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.  Cleaning/rejuvenation of rivers is an ongoing activity. It is the responsibility of the States/UTs, Local Bodies and industrial units to ensure required  treatment  of  sewage  and  industrial  effluents  in  sewage  treatment  plants  (STPs)/effluent  treatment  plants (ETPs)  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/rejuvenation 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 Ganga and its tributaries  and  the  Centrally  Sponsored  Scheme  of  National  River  Conservation  Plan  (NRCP)  for  other  rivers. Setting up of STPs is one of the important components of these programmes.

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.5961.75 crore, and inter-alia, a sewage treatment capacity of 2677 million litres per day (mld) has been created. Under the Namami Gange programme, a total of 353 projects, including 157 projects  for  sewage  treatment  of  4952  mld  and  sewer  network  of  5212  kms,  have  been  sanctioned  at  a  cost  of Rs.30458 crore.

Under the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) programme of Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs, 883 sewerage & septage management projects amounting to Rs.34,081 crore have been taken  up,  of  which  370  projects  costing  Rs.8,258  crore  have  been  completed  so  far.  Under  the  Swachh  Bharat Mission (Urban) 2.0 launched in October, 2021, Rs.15883 crore has been allocated to States/UTs for wastewater/used water management, including setting up of STPs and FSTPs (fecal sludge treatment plants).

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, including installation of wastewater treatment plants, 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.

## ANSWER