Lok Sabha Question No. 550 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-11-28
Subject: Drain Water Discharged in Rivers
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Shri Satpal Brahamchari

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT & GANGA REJUVENATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 550

ANSWERED ON 28.11.2024

## DRAIN WATER DISCHARGED IN RIVERS

## †550. SHRI SATPAL BRAHAMCHARI

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

- (a)  the  total  number  of  rivers  in  India  along  with  names  of  the  rivers  in  which  untreated  drain  water  is discharged from the municipal areas;
- (b)  whether  it  is  a  fact  that  after  treatment  of  drain  water,  Yamuna  is  still  being  polluted  and  if  so,  the reasons therefor;
- (c) whether it is also a fact that due to non-functioning of many Sewage Treatment Plants (STP) as per the standard, the water of Yamuna river is not being cleaned;
- (d) if so, the details thereof and the corrective steps taken/being taken by the Government in this regard; and
- (e) the action taken/likely to be taken against such STP operating companies?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI

( SHRI RAJ BHUSHAN CHOUDHARY )

- (a) 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=UmVwb3J0RmlsZXMvMTQ5OF8xNjcyOTg4MDQ1X21lZG lhcGhvdG8xMjk5NS5wZGY=

- (b) The main reasons for pollution in river Yamuna are discharge of untreated/ partially treated sewage into river Yamuna; absence of Common Effluent Treatment Plants (CETPs) in some approved industrial areas; delay in completion of new projects and rehabilitation and/or upgradation of sewage treatment project.
- (c) As per the information received from the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC), out of 38 nos of operational STPs only 16 STPs were found meeting the standards prescribed.
- (d) & (e) Details of corrective steps taken/being taken are :
- i. As per information received from the DPCC, all the operational STPs of Delhi Jal Board (DJB) are  being  monitored  by  DPCC every month  &  analysis reports are available on the website of

DPCC.  DPCC  issues  communication  with  the  DJB  to  meet  prescribed  standards  on  a  regular basis.

- ii. DJB  has  informed  that  each  contract  has  provision  of  penalty  in  case  of  non-achievement  of guaranteed parameters of treated effluent, etc. and, payment is withheld/recovered time to time for non-compliances. In case the agencies do not respond properly even after repeated communication there is a provision to blacklist/debar from DJB tendering. DJB has taken action on defaulting firms at various sites.
- iii. CPCB issued directions dated 12.11.2024 to Delhi Pollution Control Committee under Section 18(1) (B) of the water (prevention & control of Pollution) Act, 1974 regarding non-compliance status of Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) installed in Delhi.
- iv. The  Government  of  National  Capital  Territory  (NCT)  of  Delhi  is  working  on  the  following sewage infrastructure enhancement projects: -
- a. Rehabilitation of existing 3 STPs at Kondli Phase II, Rithala Phase I, and Yamuna Vihar Phase II;
- b. Upgradation and increasing capacity of existing STPs;
- c. Construction of 2 New STPs at Okhla and Sonia Vihar;
- d. Various interceptor sewer projects.
- v. Under  the  Namami  Gange  Programme,  to  rejuvenate  the  river  Yamuna,  9  projects  have  been sanctioned in the NCT of Delhi to create 1,268 MLD of sewage treatment capacity at an estimated cost of 1,951 crores. Eight of these projects have been completed and are operational.
- vi. The matter is regularly reviewed in the Central Monitoring Committee (CMC) and High Level Committee (HLC) meeting and necessary directions are issued to the State agencies.

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