Lok Sabha Question No. 4605 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-03-31
Subject: Drying up of Rivers
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Ramcharan Bohra

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI,

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4605

ANSWERED ON 31.03.2022

## DRYING UP OF RIVERS

## †4605.  SHRI RAMCHARAN BOHRA

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

- (a) whether experts have forecasted the drying up of several rivers in the country;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether criminal negligence towards the conservation of environment and river in the country has been indicated as reason for the drying up of rivers;
- (d) if so, the details thereof; and

(e) the corrective measures taken/proposed to be taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI

## (SHRI BISHWESWAR TUDU)

(a) to (e) There are two types of rivers in the country; i.e perennial rivers and non-perennial rivers. In perennial  rivers,  water  remains  available  throughout  the  year,  while  non-perennial  rivers  are  rain  fed rivers in which water flows only during the rainfall period. Flow in the rivers is a dynamic parameter and depends on many sub-parameters such as rainfall, its distribution pattern, duration and intensity in the  catchment,  health  of  catchment  area,  vegetation  and  withdrawals/utilization  of  water.   The  annual average flow data maintained by Central Water Commission (CWC)  for last 20 years for major/important  rivers  in  the  country  does  not  indicate  any  significant  decline  in  water  availability. However, as per CWC, the per capita annual water availability in the country has progressively reduced due to increase in population, urbanization, improved lifestyle of people, etc.

Government of India, vide Notification dated 9th October, 2018 has notified minimum environmental flows  to  be  maintained  in  river  Ganga  from  its  origin  to  Unnao  in  Uttar  Pradesh.  The  notified environmental flow regime is monitored and supervised by Central Water Commission.

Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MoEF&CC) in the Standard Terms of Reference (ToR)  for  conducting  the  Environmental  Impact  Assessment  (EIA)  studies  for  any  proposed  River Valley and Hydroelectric Project have mentioned the norms for release of environmental flows, which is 30% in  monsoon,  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 environment flow releases as per the studies are then stipulated in the Environment Clearance (EC) letter for compliance.

With regards to the monitoring of the environmental flow releases, the Regional offices of MoEF&CC and Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) along with the State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs)/ Pollution  Control  Committees  (PCCs)  concerned  have  been  mandated  for  monitoring  of  all  the environmental aspects of the Hydro Power Projects.

Cleaning  and  rejuvenation  of  rivers  is  a  continuous  process.  Rivers  and  other  water  bodies  in  the country are polluted mainly due to discharge of untreated or partially treated sewage from cities/ towns and  industrial  effluents  in  their  respective  catchments.    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 rivers and other water bodies, coastal waters or land to prevent and control of pollution therein. For conservation of rivers, this Ministry has been  supplementing  the  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  rivers  in  Ganga  basin,  and  Centrally  Sponsored  Scheme  of  National  River Conservation Plan (NRCP) for other rivers.

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. 6050.18  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 364 projects, including 160 projects for sewage treatment of 5024 mld and a sewer network of 5227 kms, have been sanctioned at a cost of Rs. 30853 crore.

In  addition,  sewerage  infrastructure  is  created  under  programs  like  Atal  Mission  for  Rejuvenation  & Urban Transformation (AMRUT) and Smart Cities Mission of Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs. Further, priority for effective rejuvenation of small rivers has been accorded under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS).

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 (SPCBs) and Pollution Control Committees (PCCs)  monitor  industries  with  respect  to  effluent  discharge  standards  and  take  action  for  noncompliance 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  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.

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