Lok Sabha Question No. 1649 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-08-01
Subject: Pollution in River Ganga
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Dr. Mohammad Jawed, Shri Murari Lal Meena, Shri Karti P Chidambaram, Shri Sukhdeo Bhagat

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1649

ANSWERED ON 01.08.2024

## POLLUTION IN RIVER GANGA

| †1649.   | SHRI MURARI LAL MEENA   | DR.MOHAMMADJAWED         |
|----------|-------------------------|--------------------------|
|          | SHRI SUKHDEO BHAGAT     | SHRI KARTI P CHIDAMBARAM |

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

(a) the details of pollution level (inorganic, organic, heavy metals etc.) in Ganga river since 2019;

(b) the total number of projects sanctioned under Namami Gange programme since 2019 till date along with the number of projects completed, State-wise;

(c) the details of the allocated budget and expenditure, project-wise;

(d) whether any impact analysis of Namami Gange programme has been conducted so far; and

(e) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI

( SHRI RAJ BHUSHAN CHOUDHARY )

(a) The water quality of river Ganga is being monitored by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) in 5  main  stem  States  through  concerned  State  Pollution  Control  Boards  (SPCBs)  namely  Uttarakhand,  Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal.

The state-wise data range of Physical parameters and Organic parameters included in notified primary water  quality  criteria  for  bathing  water  by  CPCB  is  enclosed  in Annexure-I .  State-wise  data  relating  to Inorganic parameters and Heavy Metals for 2019, 2021 and 2022 is enclosed in Annexure II.

(b) Under  the  Namami  Gange  Programme,  a  total  of  222  new  projects  have  been  sanctioned  for  the rejuvenation of the river Ganga and its tributaries since January 2019 and 191 projects have been completed during this period, enclosed in Annexure-III.

(c) The details of the project-wise allocated budget and expenditure are enclosed in Annexure-IV .

(d) & (e) The Administrative Staff College of India (ASCI) was engaged as Third Party Agency (TPA) for appraisal  of  Namami  Gange  Mission  (NGM).  ASCI  observed  in  its  report  that  the  NGM  has  led  to considerable addition to wastewater treatment infrastructure in Ganga river basin balanced with investments in  river  front  and  Ghat  development,  river  surface  cleaning  processes,  afforestation,  biodiversity,  organic agriculture, etc. Capacity building of implementing agencies and other stakeholders, along with community engagement to support the initiatives, are the other key contributions of the projects. The decentralization and mainstreaming of program tasks within the basin states and local body establishments have been the hallmark of  the  program.  ASCI  in  its  appraisal  stated  that,  NGM  has  shown  good  progress  in  achievement  of  its mandate  of  continuous  flow  (Aviral  Dhara)  and  unpolluted  flow  (Nirmal  Dhara).  It  has  demonstrated successful  and  replicable  models  for  implementing  a  large-scale  river  rejuvenation  program  on  a  mission mode and gained global recognition.

Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has carried out water quality monitoring of river Ganga. As per the report, the polluted river stretches ( PRSs) on river Ganga based on the assessment carried out in 2022 (2019 & 2021 data) are as under:

- a. Uttarakhand does not fall under polluted stretch (BOD <3mg/l);
- b. In Uttar Pradesh, Farrukhabad to Allahabad &Mirzapur to Ghazipur in Priority Class V (BOD 3-6 mg/l);
- c. In Bihar, along Buxar, Patna, Fatwah and Bhagalpur Priority Class IV (BOD 6-10 mg/l);
- d. Jharkhand does not fall under polluted stretch (BOD <3mg/l);
- e. In West Bengal, Behrampur to Haldia Priority Class IV (BOD 6-10 mg/l).

Further, the value of Dissolved oxygen, which is an indicator of river health, has been found to be within  acceptable  limits  of  notified  primary  bathing  water  quality  criteria  and  satisfactory  to  support  the ecosystem of river for almost entire stretch of river Ganga.

## ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1649 TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 01.08.2024 REGARDING 'POLLUTION IN RIVER GANGA'.

The State-wise, year-wise details of Physical and Organic parameters included in notified primary water quality criteria for bathing water by CPCB

| State         |                    |                           | Standard Value   | 2019   | 2019   | 2021   | 2021   | 2022   | 2022   |
|---------------|--------------------|---------------------------|------------------|--------|--------|--------|--------|--------|--------|
|               | Parameters         | Parameters                |                  | Min    | Max    | Min    | Max    | Min    | Max    |
| Uttarakhand   | Physical           | pH                        | 6.5 to 8.5       | 7.1    | 8.4    | 6.4    | 8.4    | 7      | 8.6    |
| Uttarakhand   | parameters         | Dissolved Oxygen          | ≥ 5mg/l          | 8.6    | 11.8   | 8      | 11     | 6.2    | 11     |
| Uttarakhand   | Organic parameters | Biochemical Oxygen Demand | ≤ 3mg/l          | 1      | 2      | 1      | 2.6    | 1      | 2.8    |
| Uttar Pradesh | Physical           | pH                        | 6.5 to 8.5       | 6.5    | 8.7    | 6.5    | 8.5    | 6.4    | 8.7    |
| Uttar Pradesh | parameters         | Dissolved Oxygen          | ≥ 5mg/l          | 4.6    | 12.2   | 5      | 12     | 4.1    | 11.6   |
| Uttar Pradesh | Organic parameters | Biochemical Oxygen Demand | ≤ 3mg/l          | 0.5    | 5.8    | 1      | 5.3    | 1      | 6.9    |
| Bihar         | Physical           | pH                        | 6.5 to 8.5       | 6.6    | 8.8    | 6.6    | 8.6    | 6.9    | 8.7    |
| Bihar         | parameters         | Dissolved Oxygen          | ≥ 5mg/l          | 5.6    | 9.8    | 3.7    | 12.8   | 5      | 13.4   |
| Bihar         | Organic parameters | Biochemical Oxygen Demand | ≤ 3mg/l          | 1.1    | 2.9    | 1      | 7.9    | 1      | 3.2    |
| Jharkhand     | Physical           | pH                        | 6.5 to 8.5       | 7.6    | 8.6    | 7.4    | 7.8    | 7.4    | 7.6    |
| Jharkhand     | parameters         | Dissolved Oxygen          | ≥ 5mg/l          | 7.8    | 8.6    | 6.4    | 7.8    | 6.6    | 7.3    |
| Jharkhand     | Organic parameters | Biochemical Oxygen Demand | ≤ 3mg/l          | 2.2    | 2.8    | 1.2    | 2.4    | 1.1    | 1.6    |
| West Bengal   | Physical           | pH                        | 6.5 to 8.5       | 6.7    | 8.9    | 6.4    | 8.6    | 6.8    | 8.6    |
| West Bengal   | parameters         | Dissolved Oxygen          | ≥ 5mg/l          | 3.5    | 11.5   | 3.2    | 9.9    | 4.8    | 9.4    |
| West Bengal   | Organic parameters | Biochemical Oxygen Demand | ≤ 3mg/l          | 0.4    | 8      | 1.1    | 4.7    | 1      | 4.9    |

Note: All parameters are expressed in mg/l except, pH.

## ANNEXURE  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PART  (a)  OF  UNSTARRED  QUESTION  NO.  1649  TO  BE  ANSWERED  IN  LOK  SABHA  ON 01.08.2024 REGARDING 'POLLUTION IN RIVER GANGA'.

## The State-wise, year-wise details of Inorganic &Heavy metals data of Ganga main stem States

| State         |             | 2019   | 2019   | 2021   | 2021   | 2022   | 2022   |
|---------------|-------------|--------|--------|--------|--------|--------|--------|
| State         | Parameters  | Min    | Max    | Min    | Max    | Min    | Max    |
|               | Chloride    | 4      | 19     | BDL    | 20     | BDL    | 56     |
|               | Ammonical-N | NA     | NA     | NA     | NA     | NA     | NA     |
|               | Calcium     | 34     | 98     | 18     | 210    | BDL    | 280    |
|               | Magnesium   | 16     | 44     | 5      | 90     | 6      | 124    |
|               | Sulphate    | NA     | NA     | 10     | 140.2  | 10.1   | 81     |
|               | Fluoride    | NA     | NA     | BDL    | 2.4    | BDL    | 1.1    |
|               | Arsenic     |        |        |        |        | BDL    | BDL    |
|               | Cadmium     |        |        |        |        | BDl    | 0.3    |
|               | Copper      |        |        |        |        | BDL    | BDL    |
|               | Lead        |        |        |        |        | BDL    | BDL    |
|               | Chromium    | NA     | NA     | NA     | NA     | BDL    | 0.4    |
|               | Nickel      |        |        |        |        | BDL    |        |
|               | Zinc        |        |        |        |        | BDL    | BDL    |
|               | Mercury     |        |        |        |        | BDL    | BDL    |
|               | Iron        |        |        |        |        | BDL    | 4.8    |
|               | Chloride    | 3.8    | 64     | 6      | 3100   | 8      | 80     |
|               | Ammonical-N | 0.02   | 1.9    | BDL    | 1.08   | BDL    | 0.8    |
|               | Calcium     | 20     | 156    | 14     | 332    | 12     | 654    |
|               | Magnesium   | 8.3    | 96     | 9.7    | 183    | 12.6   | 434    |
|               | Sulphate    | 8.2    | 58     | BDL    | 170    | BDL    | 230    |
|               | Fluoride    | 0.02   | 2.8    | BDL    | 1.07   | BDL    | 28     |
|               | Arsenic     | 0.02   | 0.02   | NA     | NA     | BDL    | BDL    |
| Uttar Pradesh | Cadmium     | BDL    | 0.3    | NA     | NA     | BDL    | BDL    |
| Uttar Pradesh | Copper      | BDL    | 0.8    | BDL    | BDL    | BDL    | BDL    |
| Uttar Pradesh | Lead        | BDL    | 0.2    | 0.04   | 0.04   | BDL    | BDL    |
| Uttar Pradesh | Chromium    | BDL    | 0.09   | BDL    | BDL    | BDL    | BDL    |
| Uttar Pradesh | Nickel      | 0.03   | 0.2    | NA     | NA     | BDL    | BDL    |
| Uttar Pradesh | Zinc        | 0.03   | 0.6    | 0.01   | 0.01   | BDL    | BDL    |
| Uttar Pradesh | Mercury     | 0.005  | 0.05   | NA     | NA     |        |        |
|               | Iron        | 0.1    | 12.5   | NA     | NA     | 0.1    | 1.9    |
|               | Chloride    | 7      | 63     | 9      | 108    | BDL    | 121    |
|               | Ammonical-N | 0.01   | 2.1    | BDL    | 5.6    | BDL    | 9.5    |
|               | Calcium     | 2.4    | 74     | 9      | 100    | 11.2   | 61.7   |
|               | Magnesium   | 1.5    | 87     | 4.8    | 55.3   | 4.4    | 53.9   |
|               | Sulphate    | 2.3    | 122    | BDL    | 98.4   | BDL    | 4385   |
|               | Fluoride    | 0.01   | 0.9    | BDL    | 1      | BDL    | 0.9    |

| State   |             | 2019     | 2019     | 2021   | 2021   | 2022   | 2022   |
|---------|-------------|----------|----------|--------|--------|--------|--------|
| State   | Parameters  | Min      | Max      | Min    | Max    | Min    | Max    |
|         | Arsenic     |          |          |        |        |        |        |
|         | Cadmium     |          |          |        |        |        |        |
|         | Copper      |          |          |        |        |        |        |
|         | Lead        |          |          |        |        |        |        |
|         | Chromium    |          |          | NA     |        |        |        |
|         | Nickel      |          |          |        |        |        |        |
|         | Zinc        |          |          |        |        |        |        |
|         | Mercury     |          |          |        |        |        |        |
|         | Iron        |          |          |        |        |        |        |
|         | Chloride    |          |          |        |        |        |        |
|         | Ammonical-N |          |          |        |        |        |        |
|         | Calcium     |          |          |        |        |        |        |
|         | Magnesium   |          |          |        |        |        |        |
|         | Sulphate    |          |          |        |        |        |        |
|         | Fluoride    |          |          |        |        |        |        |
|         | Arsenic     |          |          |        |        |        |        |
|         | Cadmium     |          |          | NA     |        |        |        |
|         | Copper      |          |          |        |        |        |        |
|         | Lead        |          |          |        |        |        |        |
|         | Chromium    |          |          |        |        |        |        |
|         | Nickel      |          |          |        |        |        |        |
|         | Zinc        |          |          |        |        |        |        |
|         | Iron        |          |          |        |        |        |        |
|         | Chloride    | 4.8      | 6555     | BDL    | 2321   | BDL    | 18859  |
|         | Ammonical-N | BDL      | 2.1      | BDL    | 1.6    | BDL    | 1.1    |
|         | Calcium     | 4        | 184      | 12     | 244    | BDL    | 46     |
|         | Magnesium   | 1.8      | 382      | BDL    | 131    | BDL    | 25     |
|         | Sulphate    | 4.6      | 552      | 8.2    | 1134   | 10.3   | 652    |
|         | Fluoride    | 0.1      | 0.6      | BDL    | 1.06   | BDL    | 0.5    |
|         | Arsenic     | BDL      | BDL      | BDL    | BDL    | BDL    | 0.01   |
|         | Cadmium     | BDL      | BDL      | BDL    | BDL    | BDL    | BDL    |
|         | Copper      | BDL 28.5 | BDL 28.5 | BDL    | BDL    | BDL    | BDL    |
|         | Lead        | BDL      |          | BDL    | 0.06   | BDL    | 0.02   |
|         | Chromium    | BDL      | BDL      | BDL    | BDL    | BDL    | BDL    |
|         | Nickel      | BDL      | BDL      | BDL    | BDL    | BDL    | BDL    |
|         | Zinc        | BDL      | 84       | BDL    | 0.19   | BDL    | 0.2    |
|         | Mercury     | BDL      | BDL      | BDL    | BDL    | BDL    | BDL    |

Note:   1. BDL-Below Detection Limit, NA-Not analysed

2. All parameters are expressed in mg/l

## ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (b) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1649 TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 01.08.2024 REGARDING 'POLLUTION IN RIVER GANGA'.

The  details of state-wise total number  of projects  sanctioned  and  completed  under  Namami  Gange Programme   since January 2019 to till June 2024 are as follows:

| Sl. No.                            | State/Others                                                                                                                             | January 2019 - Till June 2024      | January 2019 - Till June 2024      |
|------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------|------------------------------------|
|                                    |                                                                                                                                          | Total No. of Projects Sanctioned   | No. of Projects Completed*         |
| A. Sewage Infrastructure Projects: | A. Sewage Infrastructure Projects:                                                                                                       | A. Sewage Infrastructure Projects: | A. Sewage Infrastructure Projects: |
| 1                                  | Uttarakhand                                                                                                                              | 10                                 | 18                                 |
| 2                                  | Uttar Pradesh.                                                                                                                           | 33                                 | 31                                 |
| 3                                  | Bihar                                                                                                                                    | 15                                 | 15                                 |
| 4                                  | Jharkhand                                                                                                                                | 3                                  | 2                                  |
| 5                                  | West Bengal                                                                                                                              | 17                                 | 11                                 |
| 6                                  | Haryana                                                                                                                                  | 0                                  | 0                                  |
| 7                                  | Delhi                                                                                                                                    | 0                                  | 8                                  |
| 8                                  | Himachal Pradesh                                                                                                                         | 0                                  | 1                                  |
| 9                                  | Rajasthan                                                                                                                                | 0                                  | 0                                  |
| 10                                 | Madhya Pradesh                                                                                                                           | 3                                  | 0                                  |
|                                    | Sub Total                                                                                                                                | 81                                 | 86                                 |
| B.                                 | Common Effluent Treatment Plant, River Front Development, Institutional Development, Research & Study, Biodiversity, Afforestation, etc. | 141                                | 105                                |
| Total                              | Total                                                                                                                                    | 222                                | 191                                |

## ANNEXURE-IV

## ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (c) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1649 TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 01.08.2024 REGARDING 'POLLUTION IN RIVER GANGA'.

## The details of the project-wise allocated budget and expenditure

| S.No.   | Type of Project                                                                               | Total Sanctioned Cost (Rs. in Crore.)   | Expenditure/ Released* (Rs. in Crore.)   |
|---------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------|------------------------------------------|
| 1       | Sewerage Infrastructure Projects                                                              | 32,070                                  | 15,001.01                                |
| 2       | Ghats &Crematoria                                                                             | 1,808.59                                | 1,257.60                                 |
| 3       | Solid-Waste Management                                                                        | 295.26                                  | 192.65                                   |
| 4       | Institutional Development (Non - Infrastructure)                                              | 1614.89                                 | 523.77                                   |
| 5       | Project Implementation Support/Research & Study Projects/Public Relations and Public Outreach | 320.47                                  | 113.69                                   |
| 6       | Biodiversity                                                                                  | 338.63                                  | 110.50                                   |
| 7       | Afforestation                                                                                 | 537.33                                  | 374.24                                   |
| 8       | Composite Ecological Task Force & Ganga Mitra                                                 | 335.04                                  | 195.89                                   |
| 9       | Bioremediation                                                                                | 338.39                                  | 38.08                                    |
| 10      | Construction of Individual household latrine (IHHL) across Gram Panchayats near Ganga River   | 1,421.26                                | 1,020.44                                 |
|         | Grand Total                                                                                   | 39,080                                  | 18,827.87                                |