Lok Sabha Question No. 3167 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-08-04
Subject: Pollution in Krishna Rive
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Shriniwas Dadasaheb Patil

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI,

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3167

ANSWERED ON 04.08.2022

## POLLUTION IN KRISHNA RIVER

## 3167 SHRI SHRINIWAS PATIL

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

(a)  whether  the  Government  has  conducted  any  study  regarding  the  water  pollution  in  the  river Krishna;

(b) if so, the details of the results of this study especially with regard to the pollution in Satara and Sangli districts of Maharashtra; and

(c) the measures being taken by the Government to prevent the pollution and also for cleaning of the river Krishna in these two districts?

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

(a) to (c) Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) in association with Pollution Control Boards/Committees  in  different  States/Union  Territories  (UTs),  have  been  monitoring  the  water quality of rivers including Krishna river and other water bodies across the country through a network of  monitoring stations under the National Water Quality Monitoring Programme(NWMP). Based on water quality monitoring results, pollution assessment of rivers has been carried out by CPCB from time to time. As per the last report published by CPCB in September 2018, 351 polluted stretches were identified on 323 rivers based on monitoring results in terms of Bio-chemical Oxygen Demand (BOD), an indicator of organic pollution. Of these 351 stretches, 4 polluted river stretches have been identified on Krishna river, details of which are in the table below:

| River   | State          | Polluted river stretch      | BOD Range (in mg/l)   | Priority   |
|---------|----------------|-----------------------------|-----------------------|------------|
| Krishna | Andhra Pradesh | Amravathi to Hamsala Deevi  | 3.2                   | V          |
| Krishna | Karnataka      | Yadurwadi to Tintini Bridge | 3.1-6.2               | IV         |
| Krishna | Maharashtra    | Shindi to Kurundwad         | 3.4-14.0              | III        |
| Krishna | Telangana      | Thangadigi to Wadapally     | 5.0-6.0               | V          |

The  polluted  stretch  on  Krishna  river  from  Shindi  to  Kurundwad,  identified  by  CPCB,  flows through Satara and Sangli districts in Maharashtra.

As per the water quality monitoring data provided by CPCB, for the year 2021, BOD level of river Krishna in Maharashtra has been recorded from 2.6 to 7.6 milligram per litre.

It  is  the  primary  responsibility  of  the  States/Union  Territories  (UTs)  to  ensure  the  cleanliness  of water in the rivers within their jurisdiction. States and UTs are to ensure that the Urban Local Bodies and  Industrial  Units  located  in  their  jurisdiction  carry  out  the  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 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 NamamiGange for rivers in  Ganga  basin  and  through  the  Centrally  Sponsored  Scheme  of  National River Conservation Plan (NRCP) for other rivers. NRCP has so far covered polluted stretches on 35 rivers in 78 towns spread over  16  States  in  the  country  with  the  project  sanctioned  cost  of Rs. 6,142 crore, and inter alia, a sewage treatment capacity of 2,745.70 million liters per day (MLD) has been created.

Under NRCP, pollution abatement projects for conservation of river Krishna were  sanctioned in the State   of  Maharashtra  at  a  cost  of  Rs.  28.74  crore.  A  sewage  treatment  capacity  of  55  MLD,  interalia, has been created in the towns of Sangli and Karad. Karad town falls in the District of Satara.

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.

Besides,  in  compliance  of  the  orders  of  Hon'ble  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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