Lok Sabha Question No. 1711 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-05
Subject: Cleaning the Polluted Stretches of Rivers
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Dr. Nishikant Dubey

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1711

ANSWERED ON 05.12.2024

## CLEANING THE POLLUTED STRETCHES OF RIVERS

## 1711.   DR. NISHIKANT DUBEY

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

(a) whether Government is aware of the condition of polluted stretches of rivers in different parts of the country and if so, the details thereof;

(b) the steps taken/being taken by the Government for cleaning these polluted stretches;

(c) whether the Government is planning to adopt any mechanism to effectively monitor the steps taken for controlling the pollution and rejuvenation of all polluted stretches of rivers in the country; and (d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI

( SHRI RAJ BHUSHAN CHOUDHARY )

(a) & (b) As per the report of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) published in 2022, a total of 603 rivers in the country were monitored, and it was found that a total of 311 river stretches of 279 rivers were polluted. The details of the same are available at:

## https://cpcb.nic.in/openpdffile.php?id=UmVwb3J0RmlsZXMvMTQ5OF8xNjcyOTg4MDQ1X21lZ

## GlhcGhvdG8xMjk5NS5wZGY=

It is the responsibility of States/Union Territories (UTs) and Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) to ensure required treatment of sewage and industrial effluents to the prescribed norms before discharging into the rivers and other water bodies. The Govt of India provides financial and technical support to the states and ULBs under various programs like Namami Gange, National River Conservation Plan  (NRCP) and Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) etc.

Central  Sector  Scheme  'Namami  Gange'  is  being  run  by  Ministry  of  Jal  Shakti   for  pollution abatement  in  Ganga  and  other  rivers  falling  in  Ganga  Basin.  For  other  rivers,  a  Centrally  Sponsored Scheme  National  River  Conservation  Plan  is  being  run  to  support  the  efforts  of  States  and  ULBs  for abatement of pollution in rivers. Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) run by Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs also supports the states and ULBs in creating the sewerage and treatment infrastructure.

NRCP has so far covered 57 rivers spreading over 17 States in the country with a sanctioned cost of Rs.8931.49 crore, and inter-alia, a sewage treatment capacity of 2941 million litres per day (MLD) has been created.

Under Namami Gange program, and  a total  of  484  projects,  including  203  projects  for  sewage treatment of 6255 MLD and a sewer network of 5249 kilometers, have been sanctioned at a cost of Rs. 39604 crore, against which sewerage treatment capacity of 3327 MLD has been created so far.

(c)  &  (d) In  compliance  with  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 these action plans is undertaken in the States/UTs and the same is also done at the Central level by Secretary, Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, Ministry of Jal Shakti, Govt. of India.

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