Lok Sabha Question No. 4445 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-27
Subject: Top Five Polluted Rivers in Kerala
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Dr. Shashi Tharoor

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4445

ANSWERED ON 27.03.2025

## TOP FIVE POLLUTED RIVERS IN KERALA

4445. DR. SHASHI THAROOR

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of top five polluted rivers in Kerala in all five priority classes according to the Water Quality Management Division of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB);
- (b) whether it is true that Kerala stands at third position among the top States with the most polluted river stretches and if so, the details thereof; and
- (c)  whether  the  Government  would  consider  including  any  or  all  of  these  rivers  in  national  level  river cleaning projects and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI

( SHRI RAJ BHUSHAN CHOUDHARY )

- (a) As per the Central Pollution Control Board report published in November 2022, the details of the five most polluted river stretches (PRS)  in the state of Kerala are as follows:
- (b) Kerala has 18 PRS  and stands third jointly in the list of PRS. The CPCB report regarding PRS may be accessed at:

|   S. No. | River Name   | Polluted River Stretch/ Location      |   BOD value (Milligram per litre ) | Priority Class   |
|----------|--------------|---------------------------------------|------------------------------------|------------------|
|        1 | Karmana      | Along Aruvikara &along Moonnattumukku |                               10.2 | III              |
|        2 | Neyyar       | Aruvipuram to Amaravila               |                                6.5 | IV               |
|        3 | Vamanapuram  | Along Vamanapuram                     |                                6.3 | IV               |
|        4 | Ayroor       | Along Ernakulam                       |                                5.5 | V                |
|        5 | Kallai       | Along Kallai                          |                                4.6 | V                |
|        5 | Mamom        | Along Mamam                           |                                4.6 | V                |

https://cpcb.nic.in/openpdffile.php?id=UmVwb3J0RmlsZXMvMTQ5OF8xNjcyOTg4MDQ1X21lZGl hcGhvdG8xMjk5NS5wZGY=

(c) Cleaning/rejuvenation of rivers is an ongoing process. It is the primary responsibility of States/Union Territories (UTs) and Urban Local Bodies to ensure required treatment of sewage and industrial effluents to the prescribed norms before discharging into the rivers and other water bodies.

For  conservation  of  rivers,  the  Ministry  has  been  supplementing  efforts  of  the  States/UTs  by providing financial and technical assistance for abatement of pollution in identified stretches of the rivers in the country through Central Sector scheme of 'Namami Gange' for the rivers in Ganga basin, and Centrally Sponsored Schemes of National River Conservation Plan (NRCP) for other rivers. Apart from this sewerage infrastructure is also created under programs like Atal Mission for Rejuvenation & Urban Transformation (AMRUT) and Smart Cities Mission of Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs.

Proposal for pollution abatement works in the towns along polluted river stretches are received from the  State/UTs  from  time  to  time  for  consideration  under  the  NRCP,  and  sanctioned  based  on  their prioritization, conformity with NRCP guidelines, availability of funds, etc.

Pollution  abatement  work  of  the  Pamba  River  at  Pamba-Sabarimala  town  was  implemented  at  a sanctioned cost of Rs. 18.45 crore under NRCP, and a sewage treatment capacity of 4.50 MLD (Million Litre  per  day)  was  created  in  Kerala.  Further,  the  Government  of  India  has  sanctioned  projects  for  the creation of 17.5 MLD for pollution abatement of the Chitrapuzha River at Elamkulam and 19 MLD for the Periyar River at Perandoor at a cost of Rs.47.53 crore and Rs.49.78 crore, respectively.

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