Lok Sabha Question No. 1289 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-02-09
Subject: Pollution of Water Bodies
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Chandrani Murmu

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI,

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1289

## ANSWERED ON 09.02.2023 POLLUTION OF WATER BODIES

## 1289.    MS. CHANDRANI MURMU

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

(a)  whether any industry or mines have been found to be polluting water sources in Keonjhar and Mayurbhanj districts of Odisha; and

(b) if so, the details of the action taken against such industrial units and mines?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI ( SHRI BISHWESWAR TUDU )

(a)  to  (b) Water  bodies  in  the  country  are  polluted  mainly  due  to  discharge  of  untreated  or  partially  treated sewage from cities/towns/local bodies and industrial effluents in their respective catchments, poor operation and maintenance of sewage/effluent treatment plants, lack of dilution, dumping of solid waste on their banks and other non-point sources of pollution. Rapid urbanization and industrialization have also compounded the problems.

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 from time to time.  As per Central Pollution Control Board, there are 6 Grossly Polluting Industries (GPIs) in the State of Odisha, all are operational and complying with environmental standards.

As  per  the   Odisha  Pollution  Control  Board,  the  water  quality  of  major  rivers  namely,  Karo,  Kundra  and Kusei,  flowing  through  Keonjhar  and  Mayurbhanj,  is  conforming  to  the  water  quality  criteria  Class  -  C (designated as best use for drinking water source after conventional treatment and disinfection), and no industrial or mine pollution is reported in the water bodies in Keonjhar and Mayurbhanj districts of Odisha.

As per the provisions of Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 and Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution), Act 1974,  industrial  units  including  mines  are  required  to  install  effluent  treatment  plants  (ETPs)  and  treat  their effluents to comply with stipulated environmental standards before discharging into water bodies

Steps taken by the Government to stop discharge of industrial effluents into water bodies, inter-alia include issuance of notification of specific discharge standards, revision of the criteria for categorization of industries and issuing directions to all  State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs)/ Pollution Control Committees (PCCs) to adopt the same, issuance of consent to establish/consent to operate by the SPCBs/PCCs, regular and surprise inspections of  Grossly  Polluting  Industries  (GPIs)  for  compliance  verification  against  stipulated  environmental  norms, installation of Online Continuous Effluent Monitoring System (OCEMS) for assessment of effluent quality and compliance  status.  In  addition,  the  industries  are  encouraged  to  reduce  their  waste  water  generation  by technological advancement, reuse/recycle of wastewater and maintain Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) where ever possible.