Lok Sabha Question No. 1060 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-07-29
Subject: Discharge of Effluents into Canal
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Shri Rao Rajendra Singh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1060 TO BE ANSWERED ON 29.07.2024

## Discharge of Effluents into Canal

## 1060. SHRI RAO RAJENDRA SINGH:

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

- (a)    whether  the  Government  is  aware  of  the  contamination  of  canal  water  being  supplied  to Rajasthan State due to effluents being discharged by industries operating within the State of Punjab;
- (b)    If  so,  whether  the  Government  of  India  intends  to  take  action  as  per  law  against  the industries  and  Municipal  Authorities  in  Punjab  State  which  are  directly  responsible  for polluting the canal water being supplied to Rajasthan, if so, the time by which said action will be taken and if not, the reasons therefor; and
- (c)  whether the Government intends to intervene in the issue between the two States in order to assist it's swift resolution?

## ANSWER

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

(a): River Sutlej after crossing Nangal, passes through Ropar and reaches Harike Head Works. The water quality of river Sutlej is affected due to discharge of untreated/partially treated sewage and  industrial  effluent  from  cities  and  towns  of  Punjab  including  Ludhiana,  Jalandhar  and Phagwara.  As  per  29th  Meeting  of  the  Northern  Zonal  Council  dated  20.09.2019,  untreated sewage and industrial effluent of a number of cities/towns of Punjab are discharged into river Sutlej and its tributaries/drains leading to the river.

(b)  &  (c): CPCB  conducted  random  inspection  of  14  Sewage  Treatment  Plants  (STPs),  4 Common Effluent Treatment Plants (CETPs) and 29 Grossly Polluting Industries (GPIs)/ Highly Polluting Industries (HPIs) situated in the catchment of River Sutlej in Punjab State during June 23-25, 2021. The analyses of the visit reports reveal that 15 out of 29 industrial units; 2 out of 4 CETPs  and  12  out  of  14  STPs  were  found  non-complying  to  the  effluent  discharge  norms. Following  actions  were  taken  against  non-complying  Industrial  Units,  CETPs  and  STPs  in accordance with the provisions under the Environmental (Protection) Act, 1986 and the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974.

- i. CPCB issued show-cause notice issued under Section 5 of The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 to six industrial units with major violations to the effluent discharge norms.
- ii. Communication for corrective actions was sent to nine industrial units with minor violations to the effluent discharge norms.
- iii. Show-cause  notice  under  Section  5  of  The  Environment  (Protection)  Act,  1986  to  The Municipal Commissioner (s) issued to five Sewage Treatment Plants with major violations to the discharge norms.
- iv. Directions under Section 18 (1) (b) of The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974  issued  to  the  Punjab  Pollution  Control  Board  (PPCB)  for  seven  Sewage  Treatment Plants with minor violations (only faecal coliform) to the discharge norms.
- v. Directions under Section 18 (1) (b) of The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 were issued to the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) for two Common Effluent Treatment Plants with major violations to the effluent discharge norms.

Further, in year 2018, based on water quality data of year 2016 & 17, 351 polluted river stretches (PRS) were identified by CPCB. Out of which, 4 PRS were identified in Punjab State including Polluted Stretch of River Sutlej from Rupnagar to Harike bridge under Priority Class I (BOD is >30 mg/L).

For rejuvenation of 351 polluted river stretches identified by CPCB during the year 2018, action plans were prepared by River Rejuvenation Committee (RRC) constituted by the respective State Government/  UT  Administration,  under  the  overall  supervision  and  coordination  of  Principal Secretary, Environment of the concerned State /Union Territory for bringing all the polluted river stretches  identified  by  CPCB  fit  for  bathing  purposes  (i.e.  BOD  ˂  3  mg/L  and  FC  ˂  500 MPN/100 mL).

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