Lok Sabha Question No. 267 (STARRED), answered on 2025-08-07
Subject: Polluted River Stretches
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Smt. Bharti Pardhi, Shri Bhausaheb Rajaram Wakchaure

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI

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

## LOK SABHA

## STARRED QUESTION NO. *267

ANSWERED ON 07.08.2025

## POLLUTED RIVER STRETCHES

## †*267. SHRI BHAUSAHEB RAJARAM WAKCHAURE

SMT. BHARTI PARDHI

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

(a) the updated list of 'polluted river stretches' identified by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) for 2024-25;

(b)  the  number  of  the  polluted  stretches  identified  earlier,  State-wise,  particularly  in  Maharashtra  and Madhya Pradesh which have shown significant improvement and the number of new stretches added to the said list;

(c) the extent to which the existing water quality monitoring mechanisms including real-time monitoring stations and manual sampling have proved effective;

(d) whether there are adequate monitoring stations, particularly in sensitive industrial and urban areas;

(e) if so, the details thereof, State-wise, particularly in Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh; and

(f)  the  steps  taken/being  taken  to  strengthen  the  surveillance  network  and  ensure  accuracy  and transparency of data?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF JAL SHAKTI

(SHRI C R PAATIL)

(a) to (f) : A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

## STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (f) OF STARRED QUESTION NO. *267  TO  BE  ANSWERED  ON  07.08.2025  IN  LOK  SABHA  REGARDING  'POLLUTED  RIVER STRETCHES'

(a)  &  (b) Central  Pollution  Control  Board (CPCB)  initiated  the  exercise  of  identifying  Polluted  River Stretches (PRS) in the country since 2009 based on the river water quality monitored during the past years on periodic basis. So far, CPCB has published 4 such periodic reports in the  year 2009, 2015, 2018 and 2022.

As per the latest information available on the PRS report published by the Central Pollution Control Board  (CPCB)  in  November  2022,  311  polluted  river  stretches  were  identified  on  279  rivers  in  30 States/Union Territories based on monitoring results in terms of Bio-Chemical Oxygen Demand (BOD), as an indicator of organic pollution.

The  number  of  PRSs  has  decreased  from  351  identified  in  the  year  2018  to  311  in  the  year  2022. Further, 106 PRSs have been delisted and improvement in water quality of 74 polluted river stretches have been observed in 2022 as compared to the report published in 2018. The state-wise status of river pollution throughout the country, including Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh is available at: https://cpcb.nic.in/openpdffile.php?id=UmVwb3J0RmlsZXMvMTQ5NF8xNjcxNzc3ODg2X21lZGlhcGhv

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(c) The  existing  water  quality  monitoring  mechanisms,  comprising  both  manual  sampling  under  the National  Water  Quality  Monitoring  Programme  (NWMP)  and  Real-Time  Water  Quality  Monitoring Stations (RTWQMS) in Ganga Basin have played a significant role in tracking and managing river water pollution across the country. As per the CPCB, water quality data is obtained from the manual water quality monitoring carried out under NWMP and it is utilized for identification of PRS. Further, these stations help us in assessing the polluted river stretches and preparation of action plans for these stretches.

(d) & (e) CPCB in collaboration with State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs) in the States, and Pollution Control  Committees  (PCCs)  in  Union  Territories  has  established  a  National  Water  Quality  Monitoring Network  (NWMP)  in  order  to  regularly  assess  status  of  water  quality  of  water  resources  to  facilitate prevention  and  control  of  pollution  in  water  bodies.  CPCB  at  present  monitors  water  quality  of  aquatic resources  at  4736  locations  across  the  country  which  includes  2155  locations  on  645  rivers.   Madhya Pradesh  Pollution  Control  Board  (MPPCB)  monitors  water  quality  of  aquatic  resources  at  254  locations which includes 160 locations on 51 rivers and Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) monitors water quality of aquatic resources at 252 locations which includes 156 locations on 57 rivers.

- (f) In order to ensure transparency and accuracy of data the following measures are taken:
-  Water samples are analyzed for Surface water & groundwater parameters as per Guidelines for Water  Quality  Monitoring,  2017  issued  by  Ministry  of  Environment,  Forest  and  Climate Change (MoEF&CC).
-  Water  samples  are  tested  in  National  Accreditation  Board  for  Testing  and  Calibration Laboratories (NABL) accredited labs to ensure accuracy.
-  Auditing of monitoring locations under NWMP is annually carried out by CPCB through its Regional Directorates.
-  State  Board  laboratories  participate  in  the  Analytical  Quality  Control  (AQC)  carried  out  by CPCB for proficiency testing.
-  The water quality data is posted on CPCB website at https://cpcb.nic.in/nwmp-data/ .

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