Lok Sabha Question No. 3165 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-08-04
Subject: Contaminated Water Flow in Drains
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Gurjeet Singh Aujla

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI,

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3165

ANSWERED ON 04.08.2022

## CONTAMINATED WATER FLOW IN DRAINS

## 3165 SHRI GURJEET SINGH AUJLA

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

(a)  whether  the  Government has any action plan or programme to treat the polluted and contaminated water flowing in drains and if so, the details thereof; and

(b) whether the Government has any action plan or programme in coordination with the State of Punjab to treat the polluted and contaminated water flowing in drains especially in Tung Dhab drain from Amritsar across international border to Pakistan and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(a) & (b) It is responsibility of State/UTs, Local Bodies and Industrial Units to ensure required treatment of sewage  and  industrial effluents in sewage  treatment plants (STPs)/ effluent treatment plant (ETPs)/common effluent treatment plants (CETPs) to the prescribed norms before discharging in to river and other water bodies, coastal waters or land to prevent and control of pollution therein.

This  Ministry,  through  the  Centrally  Sponsored  Scheme  of  National  River  Conservation  Plan (NRCP) has been supplementing efforts of the States/UTs by providing financial and technical assistance for abatement of pollution in identified stretches of rivers, excluding river Ganga and its tributaries, on cost  sharing  basis.  Different  pollution  abatement  projects  admissible  under  NRCP  include  sewerage networks, interception and diversion works, sewage treatment plants (STPs), etc.

Proposals for pollution abatement works in towns/cities along polluted river stretches are received from the States/UTs from time to time for consideration under the NRCP, and sanctioned on cost sharing basis  based  on  their  prioritization,  conformity  with  NRCP  guidelines,  availability  of  Plan  funds,  etc. Under  this  scheme,  conservation  of  three  rivers  in  Punjab  namely  Ghaggar,  Satluj  and  Beas  were sanctioned  at  a  total  cost  of  Rs.  774.43  crores.  With  the  implementation  of  these  schemes,  a  sewage treatment capacity of 663.20 mld has been created in 18 towns, so far.

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.

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 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 by Secretary, Department of Water Resource, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation, Ministry of Jal Shakti, Govt. of India.

As  per  information  provided  by  Punjab  Pollution  Control  Board,  a  task  force  under  the chairmanship of Hon'ble Member of Parliament, Amritsar has been nominated by Govt. of Punjab on 19.08.2021  with  the  stakeholder  departments  as  its  members  to  work  out  a  plan  for  cleaning  and rejuvenation, of Tung Dhab drain.

*****