Lok Sabha Question No. 493 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-02-04
Subject: Pollution Level in Yamuna River during Lockdown
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Gautam Gambhir, Nusrat Jahan Ruhi, K. Subbarayan

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI,

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 493 ANSWERED ON 04.02.2021

## POLLUTION LEVEL IN Y AMUNA RIVER DURING L OCKDOWN

## 493. SHRI GAUTAM GAMBHIR

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

- (a) whether it is a fact that the level of pollution in the Yamuna river in Delhi has reduc on industrial and commercial activities during the lockdown;
- (b) if so, the details there of;
- (c) whether the Government is planning to introduce stricter rules against dumping of indus Yamuna; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI & SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT (SHRI RATTAN LAL KATARIA )

(a) & (b) Monitoring of River Yamuna was carried out during April, 2020 within Delhi stretch b Pollution Control Board (CPCB)at 3 monitoring locations viz. Palla, Nizamuddin bridge and Ok U/S to assess the impact of lockdown on water quality. The results of the analysis indicate the foll

1. Water Quality of River Yamuna within the Delhi stretch at Palla, was complying with Primary water quality criteria for bathing viz. pH, Dissolved Oxygen (DO) and Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD), whereas, the water quality at Nizamuddin bridge and Okhla U/S was not comp with respect to Primary water quality criteria for bathing in terms of DO and BOD.
2. As regards the assessment of wate r quality of river Yamuna in April 2020 during lockdown per as compared to pre - lockdown period i.e. March, 2020, at Palla, improvement in terms of BOD wa observed and at locations Nizamuddin bridge and Okhla U/S, improvement in terms of both DO an BO D was observed.

The improvement in water quality has been attributed to:

- I . Release of fresh water from Wazirabad Barrage and availability of dilution in river Yamu a;
- II . Stoppage of industrial effluent discharge (about 35.9 MLD) due to lockdown during CO - 19 pandemic;

- III . Good  penetration  of  solar  radiation  in  water  body  due  to  washing  out  of  bottom  s settleable and colloidal form of pollutants in river Yamuna due to discharge of fresh water fro Wazirabad barrage; and
- IV. Absence of human activities such as throwing of garbage, bathing, washing of clothes lockdown during COVID - 19 pandemic.

(c) & (d) Stringent monitoring and regulation of industries and pollution sources is undertaken to the compliance status of Grossly Polluting Industries (GPIs) for enforcing regulatory fram polluting industries. Stringent action is taken by Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)/S ate Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs)/ Pollution Control Committees against the GPIs discharging into main Ganga River & its tributaries which are non -complying with respect to the prescribed norms.

Ministry  of  Environment,  Forest  &  Climate  Change (MoEF & CC)  formulates  and  notifies standards for emission or discharge of environmental pollutants viz. air pollutants and wa from industries, operations or processes with an aim to protect and improve the quality of t and abat e environmental pollution.

Industry  specific  effluent/emission  standards  are  notified  under  Schedule -I:  'Standards  for Emission or Discharge of Environmental Pollutants from Various Industries' of Environment Protection Act,  1986.  State  Pollution  Control Boards  and  Pollution  Control  Committees  in  States  and  Uni Territories,  respectively  are  adhered  to  ensure  the  compliance  of  these  standards.  So  fa specific effluent standards and 63 industry specific emission standards have been notified.

Delhi  Pollution  Control  Committee  (DPCC)  regulates  industrial  pollution  through mechanism. DPCC has issued stricter norms for sewage treatment in Delhi.

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