Lok Sabha Question No. 1493 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-02-10
Subject: Beautification of Krishna and Kaveri Rivers
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: P. C. Mohan

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1493

ANSWERED ON 10.02.2022

## BEAUTIFICATION OF KRISHNA AND KAVERI RIVERS

1493. SHRI P.C. MOHAN

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

- (a) whether there is special project/scheme like Namami Gange for beautification and upkeep of southern major rivers like Krishna, Kaveri etc.;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c)  whether the Government is mulling any similar plan for cleaning these rivers and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether the Government is aware of the fact that the water in these rivers is getting dried up fast and for most part of the year these rivers stay dry;
- (e) if so, whether there is a plan to revive these rivers such that the water flows in the rivers round the year in the long term; and
- (f) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI

## (SHRI BISHWESWAR TUDU)

(a)  to  (c)  Cleaning/rejuvenation  of  rivers  is  a  continuous  process.  It  is  the  responsibility  of  the States/Union Territories (UTs), Local Bodies and Industrial Units to ensure required treatment of sewage and  industrial  effluents  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 of rivers, this Ministry supplements the efforts of the State Governments by providing financial assistance for taking up works relating to interception & diversion of raw sewage, laying of sewer lines, setting up of sewage treatment plants,  low  cost  sanitation  facilities,  improved  wood  crematoria,  river  front/bathing  ghat  development, etc. for abatement of pollution in identified stretches of rivers in the country through the Central Sector Scheme of Namami Gange for river Ganga and its tributaries and the Centrally Sponsored Scheme of National River Conservation Plan (NRCP) for rivers other than Ganga basins.

Proposals for pollution abatement works in the towns along polluted river stretches are received from the States/UTs from time to time for consideration under NRCP and sanctioned based on their prioritization,  conformity  with  NRCP  guidelines,  availability  of  plan  funds,  etc.  Pollution  abatement works in 6 Southern States have been taken up under NRCP which includes Krishna & Kaveri. State wise details are given at Annexure.

(d)  to  (f)    There  are  two  types  of  rivers  in  the  country  viz;  perennial  and  non  perennial  rivers.  The perennials are those rivers, in which water remains available throughout the year and non-perennials are those rivers which are rain fed rivers and in which water flows only during rainfall period. The flow in a river  is  a  dynamic  parameter  and  depends  on  many  sub-parameters  such  as  rainfall,  its  distribution duration and intensity in catchment, health of catchment area, vegetation and withdrawals/utilization of water.

Hon'ble National Green Tribunal (NGT) in OA 498 of 2015 has directed all States to maintain a minimum environmental flow of 15-20% of the average lean season flow in their rivers. The notified environmental flow regime is monitored and supervised by the Central Water Commission (CWC).

Ministry  of  Environment,  Forest  and  Climate  Change  (MoEF&CC)  in  the Standards  Terms  of Reference (ToR) for conducting Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) studies for any proposed River Valley & Hydroelectric Project have mentioned the norms for release of environmental flows, which is 30% in monsoon season, 20% in lean season and 25% in non-monsoon & non-lean season, to be followed corresponding to flow of 90% dependable year. These norms along with the site specific requirements for environmental  flow  releases  as  per  the  studies  are  then  stipulated  in  the  Environment  Clearance  (EC) letter for compliance.

The Regional Offices of MoEF&CC and the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) along with the State Pollution Control Boards concerned have been mandated  for monitoring of all the environmental  aspects  of  the  Hydro  Power  Projects,  including  maintenance/release  of  environmental flows.

Besides, in compliance of the orders of 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  for  restoration  of  the  polluted  stretches  in  their  jurisdiction  as  identified  by  CPCB  and published in their report of 2018, within the stipulated timelines. The action plans covers 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 biodiversity  parks,  Removal  of  encroachments,  Rain  water  harvesting,  Plantation  on  both  sides  of  the river),  and  Watershed  management,  including  Ecological/Environmental  Flow  (E-Flow)  for  ensuring uninterrupted flow in the rivers. As per the orders of NGT, regular review on implementation of action plans is undertaken in the States/UTs and also at Central level.

Government  has  also  taken  up  campaigns  like  the  "Jal  Shakti  Abhiyan:  Catch  the  Rain"  to encourage  people  to  conserve  rainwater,  rejuvenate  rivulets  and  rivers  etc  to  help  flow  in  the  rivers during lean periods

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Annexure

Annexure referred to in reply to parts (a) to (c) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1493 to be answered on the 10 th February,2022 regarding 'Beautification of Krishna and Kaveri Rivers'.

## State-wise details under National River Conservation Plan (excluding Ganga and its tributaries)

(Rs. in crore)

| S. No.   | State          | Rivers covered                                     |   Sanctioned Cost |   Funds Released by Central Govt. |   STP capacity created (in mld) |
|----------|----------------|----------------------------------------------------|-------------------|-----------------------------------|---------------------------------|
| 1        | Andhra Pradesh | Godavari                                           |             21.78 |                            259.8  |                           30    |
| 2        | Telangana      | Godavari &Musi                                     |            345.72 |                            259.8  |                          621.46 |
| 3        | Karnataka      | Tunga, Bhadra, Tungabhadra, Cauvery &Pennar        |             66.25 |                             47.83 |                           41.64 |
| 4        | Maharashtra    | Godavari, Tapi, Krishna, Panchganga&Mula-Mutha     |           1182.86 |                            208.95 |                          260    |
| 5.       | Tamil Nadu     | Adyar, Cooum, Vaigai, Vennar, Cauvery &Tamrabarani |            908.13 |                            623.65 |                          477.66 |
| 6.       | Kerala         | Pamba                                              |             18.45 |                              7.78 |                            4.5  |
| Total    |                |                                                    |           2543.19 |                           1148.01 |                         1435.26 |