Lok Sabha Question No. 2762 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-12
Subject: Mechanism to Keep Pollution Free Rivers in Rajasthan
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Shri Ummeda Ram Beniwal

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2762

ANSWERED ON 12.12.2024

## MECHANISM TO KEEP POLLUTION FREE RIVERS IN RAJASTHAN

†2762. SHRI UMMEDA RAM BENIWAL

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

(a) the mechanism to keep the rivers free from pollution along with its characteristics;

(b) whether it is a fact that there have been complaints of releasing contaminated chemical-laden water from factories in Pali, Jodhpur and Balotra which causes pollution in Luni river in Rajasthan;

(c) if so, the details thereof and the action taken/likely to be taken by the Government thereon;

(d) whether it is also a fact that the directions issued by the High Court and NGT have not been complied with on receiving various complaints including discharge of chemical-laden water from factories and HRTS of Common Effluent Treatment Plants (CETP) into Luni river and if so, the details thereof; and

(e) the steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government to keep the Luni river pollution free?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI

## ( SHRI RAJ BHUSHAN CHOUDHARY )

(a) It  is  the  primary 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 for the River Ganga and its tributaries,  National River Conservation Plan (NRCP) for river basins other than Ganga and Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT).

As per the  provisions  of  Environment  (Protection)  Act,  1986  and  Water  (Prevention  &  Control  of Pollution),  Act  1974,  industrial  units  and  local  bodies  are  required  to  install  Effluent  Treatment  Plants (ETPs)/Common Effluent Treatment Plants (CETPs) and Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) respectively and treat their effluents/sewage to comply with stipulated environmental standards before discharging into river and  water  bodies.  Accordingly,  Central  Pollution  Control  Board  (CPCB),  State  Pollution  Control  Boards (SPCB)/Pollution  Control  Committees  (PCCs)  monitor  industries  with  respect  to  effluent  discharge standards and take punitive action for non-compliance under the provisions of these Acts.

Besides,  in  compliance  of  the  orders  of  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.  Further,  Central  Monitoring  Committee  has  been  constituted  under  the  Chairmanship  of  the Secretary,  Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, Ministry of Jal Shakti, Govt. of India.

(b) to (e) As  per  the  report  of  the  Central  Pollution  Control  Board  (CPCB)  published  in  2022,  it  was found that  the  river  Luni  in  Rajasthan,  was  polluted  in  terms  of  biochemical  oxygen  demand  (BOD),  an indicator of organic pollution.

As per the CPCB, complaints were received regarding pollution in the Luni River, Rajasthan, caused by the discharge of contaminated water from factories in Pali, Jodhpur, and Balotra. The said complaints were forwarded by CPCB to  the Rajasthan Pollution Control Board (RSPCB) for taking appropriate action. According to RPCB, there are 1831 textile units in  Pali,  Jodhpur  and  Balotra  in  Rajasthan.  Out  of  1831 textile units, 1674 are connected to Common Effluent Treatment Plants (CETPs), and 157 units have their own Effluent Treatment Plants. For treatment of industrial effluent, there are 9 CETPs with a total capacity of 110 MLD: 4 in Pali, 2 in Jodhpur, and 3 in Balotra. The number of complying and non-complying CETPs are 5 and 4, respectively.

The regulatory bodies take punitive action against non-complying CETPs.

Under  NRCP,  projects  for  setting  up  sewage  treatment  plants  of  40  million  liters  per  day  (MLD) capacity  in  Jodhpur,  Rajasthan  have  been  sanctioned  at  a  total  cost  of  Rs.172.60  crore  for  pollution abatement of River Jojari, a tributary of river Luni in Rajasthan.

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