Lok Sabha Question No. 4799 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-08-21
Subject: Expenditure under National Mission for Clean Ganga
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Shri Biplab Kumar Deb

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4799

## ANSWERED ON 21.08.2025

## EXPENDITURE UNDER NATIONAL MISSION FOR CLEAN GANGA

## 4799. SHRI BIPLAB KUMAR DEB:

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

(a) whether major rivers are being polluted by industrial effluents in the country and if so, the details thereof;

(b) the actions taken during each of the last five years to address this problem;

(c)  the  details  of  the  expenditure  incurred  under  the  National  Mission  for  Clean  Ganga  (Namami Gange/NMCG) during each of the last five years; and

(d)  the  current  status  of  river  water  pollution  across  the  country,  particularly  key  pollutants,  critical river stretches and recent developments such as industrial effluent controls?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI

## ( SHRI RAJ BHUSHAN CHOUDHARY )

(a)  to (d) Rivers in the country are polluted mainly due to discharge of untreated and partially treated sewage from cities/towns and industrial effluents in their respective catchments. Non-point sources of pollution  like  agricultural  runoff,  open  defecation,  runoff  from  solid  waste  dump  sites,  etc.  also contribute  to  pollution  of  rivers.  Rapid  urbanization  and  industrialization  have  compounded  the problems.

As per the latest Report on 'Polluted River Stretches for Restoration of Water Quality' published by Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) in 2022, 603 rivers were monitored and 311 river stretches on 279 rivers were found polluted in 30 States/Union Territories (UTs). Details of the same are available at :https://cpcb.nic.in/openpdffile.php?id=UmVwb3J0RmlsZXMvMTQ5OF8xNjcyOTg4MDQ1X21lZGlh cGhvdG8xMjk5NS5wZGY=

As  per  the  provisions  of  the  Environment  (Protection)  Act,  1986  and  the  Water  (Prevention  & Control  of  Pollution)  Act  1974,  all  industrial  units  and  other  establishments  generating  industrial effluents, are required to comply with the stipulated standards before discharging into rivers and water bodies. CPCB, State Pollution Control Boards (SPCB)/Pollution Control Committees (PCCs) monitor industries to ensure compliance of the provisions of the said Acts and take necessary action accordingly.

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) issues orders related to polluted river stretches from time to time. In Original Application No. 673/2018, the NGT directed that all States/UTs should prepare action

plans for the rejuvenation of polluted river stretches in the country identified in 2018 by CPCB. As per the  direction,  the  implementation  of  said  action  plans  are  reviewed  at  all  States/UTs  and  the  central level.

In  compliance  of  these  orders,  the  States/UTs  have  prepared  their  action  plan  and  got  approved from the competent authority. For monitoring of the action plans prepared by the States/UTs, a Central Monitoring  Committee  (CMC)  has  been  constituted  at  Central  level  under  the  Chairmanship  of  the Secretary, Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, Ministry of Jal Shakti, Govt. of India. So far, 20 CMC meetings have been held.

As per CPCB, there are total of 4,538 industries under Grossly Polluting Industries (GPIs). Out of which, 3672 number of industries were operational and 866 industries had closed down on their own. Amongst  the  operational industries, 3064  industries were reported to be complying  with the environmental standards, while show-cause notices issued to 571 industries and closure directions issued to 36 non-complying industries. In addition, penalty have been imposed on 01 industry.

The  details  of  year-wise  funds  released/disbursed  during  last  five  years  by  National  Mission  for Clean Ganga (NMCG) under Namami Gange Programme are as given below:

| Financial Year   | Funds released/disbursed byNMCG (Rs. in crore)   |
|------------------|--------------------------------------------------|
| 2020-21          | 1,339.97                                         |
| 2021-22          | 1,892.70                                         |
| 2022-23          | 2,258.98                                         |
| 2023-24          | 2,396.10                                         |
| 2024-25          | 2,589.11                                         |

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