Lok Sabha Question No. 889 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-07-24
Subject: Pollution Levels of Rivers in Andhra Pradesh
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Dr. D. Purandeswari

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 889

ANSWERED ON 24.07.2025

## POLLUTION LEVELS OF RIVERS IN ANDHRA PRADESH

889.   DR. D. PURANDESWARI

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has comprehensive data on the pollution levels of rivers in Andhra Pradesh and if so, the details thereof along with the names of the most severely affected rivers in the State;
- (b)  the  primary  sources  of  river  pollution  in  Andhra  Pradesh  and  the  efforts  being  made  to  address industrial waste, sewage discharge and plastic pollution in these water bodies;
- (c) the specific initiatives undertaken by the Government to clean and rejuvenate polluted rivers in Andhra Pradesh;
- (d)  the  total  financial  allocation  made  for  river  cleaning  projects  in  Andhra  Pradesh  and  the  actual expenditure incurred during the last five years; and
- (e)  the  details  of  the  long-term  policies  being  formulated  by  the  Government  to  prevent  further  river pollution and ensure sustainable water resource management keeping in view the rapid urbanization and industrialization in Andhra Pradesh?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI

( SHRI RAJ BHUSHAN CHOUDHARY )

- (a)  to  (e) As  per  the  Central  Pollution  Control  Board  report  on  pollution  assessment  of  rivers  in  the country, published in November, 2022, the details of polluted river stretches in the State of Andhra Pradesh are as below:-

|   S. No. | River         | Polluted River Stretch/Location   |   Maximum Bio-chemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) observed (in milligram per litre) | Priority   |
|----------|---------------|-----------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------|
|        1 | Vasishta      | Along Narasapuram                 |                                                                         58   | I          |
|        2 | Gostani       | Along village Vendra              |                                                                          8.6 | IV         |
|        3 | UpputeruAlong | Chinagollapalem                   |                                                                          3.4 | V          |

Rivers in the country are polluted mainly due to discharge of untreated or partially treated sewage from  cities/towns  and  industrial  effluents  in  their  respective  catchments,  dumping  of  solid  wastes,

agricultural  run-off,  problems  in  operation  and  maintenance  of  sewage/effluent  treatment  plants,  lack  of dilution and other non-point sources of pollution.

It  is  the  primary  responsibility  of  States/Union  Territories  and  local  bodies  to  ensure  required treatment  of  sewage  and  industrial  effluent,  before  discharging  into  recipient  water  bodies  or  land  for prevention  and  control  of  pollution  therein.  Namami  Gange  Program  for  rejuvenation,  protection  and management  of  river  Ganga  and  its  tributaries,  and  National  River  Conservation  Plan  (NRCP)  for conservation  of  other  rivers  in  the  country  have  been  undertaken.  The  schemes  of  Atal  Mission  for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT), Smart Cities Mission and Swachh Bharat Mission Urban under the aegis of Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs are also being implemented in identified towns, which are aimed at improving water quality of rivers and other water bodies, sanitation systems and water management in different towns.

Under NRCP,  the project for pollution abatement and conservation of river Godavari at Rajamahendravaram in Andhra Pradesh, was sanctioned in March, 2022 at a cost of Rs.88.43 crore. During last 5 years, an amount of Rs.28.26 crore has been released to the State Government of Andhra Pradesh for implementation of the project.

Cleaning/rejuvenation of rivers is a continuous and dynamic process. In compliance of the orders of National  Green  Tribunal  in  Original  Application  No.673/2018  regarding  polluted  river  stretches  in  the country,  States/UTs  are  required  to  implement  action  plans  for  restoration  of  the  said  stretches  in  their jurisdiction within the stipulated timelines.

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