Lok Sabha Question No. 1809 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-10
Subject: Rejuvenation of Cauvery River
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Shri Yaduveer Wadiyar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1809

TO BE ANSWERED ON 10.03.2025

## Rejuvenation of Cauvery River

## 1809.   SHRI YADUVEER WADIYAR:

Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of funds allocated for river conservation under National River Conservation Programme (NRCP) in the State of Karnataka, district wise;
- (b) the steps being taken to clean and rejuvenate the Cauvery and its tributaries in Mysuru;
- (c) whether  any  initiatives  have  been  introduced  to  reduce  pollution  from  agricultural runoff, if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) the  measures  being  implemented  to  protect  Kodagu's  forest  and  streams  from encroachments and pollution?

## ANSWER

MINISTER  OF  STATE  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)

## (a) to (d)

The Govt. of India has been supplementing efforts of the States/UTs by providing financial and technical assistance for abatement of pollution other than Ganga and its tributaries under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme of National River Conservation Plan (NRCP) in the country. States/Union Territories (UTs) and Urban Local Bodies ensure required treatment of sewage and industrial effluents to the prescribed norms before discharging into the rivers and other water  bodies.  Proposals  for  pollution  abatement  works  in  the  towns  along  polluted  river stretches are received from the States/UTs from time to time for consideration under NRCP and sanctioned based on their prioritization, conformity with NRCP guidelines, availability of plan  funds,  etc.  The  assistance  is  provided  to  State  Governments/UTs  for  abatement  of pollution  in identified stretches  of various  rivers (excluding river  Ganga and its tributaries) under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme of National River Conservation Plan (NRCP) on cost sharing basis between the Central & State Governments/UTs for taking up various pollution abatement works relating to interception & diversion of raw sewage, construction of sewerage systems, setting up of sewage treatment plants, low cost sanitation, river front/bathing ghat development, etc.

Scheme taken-up under NRCP programme are aimed primarily at reduction in pollution load in rivers. Apart from improvement in water quality of rivers leading to better public health and ecology of the river  systems, the pollution abatement  works taken up under  NRCP help  to improve the aesthetics & sanitation in the towns and in maintaining a cleaner environment. Under NRCP, pollution abatement works were sanctioned in 9 towns (between 1975 -2010) in the State of Karnataka.  Details are as follows:

| Town          | River       |   Sanctioned cost (in crore) |   STP Capacity created (in MLD) |   No. of STP Set up |
|---------------|-------------|------------------------------|---------------------------------|---------------------|
| Bangalore     | Pennar      |                        46.27 |                            0    |                   0 |
| Bhadravati    | Bhadra      |                         3.76 |                            5.83 |                   1 |
| Davangere     | Tungabhadra |                         4.66 |                           19.45 |                   1 |
| Harihara      | Tungabhadra |                         2.49 |                            8.84 |                   1 |
| K. R. Nagar   | Cauvery     |                         0.57 |                            1.45 |                   1 |
| Kollegal      | Cauvery     |                         1.08 |                            3.34 |                   1 |
| Nanjangud     | Cauvery     |                         2.23 |                            1.37 |                   1 |
| Shimoga       | Tunga       |                         3.7  |                            0    |                   0 |
| Srirangapatna | Cauvery     |                         1.44 |                            1.36 |                   1 |
| Total         |             |                        66.2  |                           41.64 |                   7 |

CPCB identifies Polluted River Stretches (PRS) based on the water quality data of rivers, the stretches of rivers not meeting the Primary Water Quality criterion of Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) (indicator of organic pollution) for outdoor bathing is considered. The BOD value exceeding 3 mg/l is identified as polluted stretch. The PRS are further classified under Priority Class I through V, Priority I being most polluted (BOD value > 30 mg/l) and Priority V least polluted (BOD value between 3 - 6 mg/l). The status report is put up in public domain and  shared  with  respective  SPCBs/PCCs  for  taking  necessary  corrective  measures  w.r.t abatement of water pollution.

The comprehensive action plans have been prepared for rejuvenation  of identified PRS by River Rejuvenation Committees (RRC/s) constituted by the respective State Government/UT Administration,  under  the  overall  supervision  and  coordination  of  Principal  Secretary, Environment of the concerned State /Union Territory. The action plans for PRS under Priority I to IV were reviewed and approved by Task Team headed by Member Secretary, CPCB. The action plan covered flood plain zone protection and its management including the removal of encroachments. Based on the water quality data monitored in 2016 and 2017, the stretch from Ranganathittu  to  Sathyamangalam  bridge  of  river  Cauvery  in  the  state  of  Karnataka  was identified  as  PRS  under  priority  IV.  The  progress  of  the  implementation of  action  plans  is reviewed by the RRCs at State Level and Central Monitoring Committee (CMC) constituted under the Chairmanship of Secretary, Ministry of Jal Shakti at Central Level.

Based on the water quality data monitored in 2019 and 2021 (2020 being COVID year was excluded)  the  stretch  of  river  Cauvery  along  Rangapattanna  in  the  state  of  Karnataka  was identified as PRS under priority V. Further, this Ministry along with regulatory agencies and State Forest Department take all regulatory and preventive measures to protect Kodagu's forest and streams from encroachments and pollution.

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