Lok Sabha Question No. 2955 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-12
Subject: Protection of Extinct/Endangered Rivers
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Shri Rakesh Rathor

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2955

ANSWERED ON 12.12.2024

## PROTECTION OF EXTINCT/ENDANGERED RIVERS

## †2955. SHRI RAKESH RATHOR

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government proposes to protect the extinct/endangered rivers in the country and if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether the Government also proposes to protect the rivers which are on the verge of extinction in Uttar Pradesh and if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether the Government has a plan to protect the Sarayan river flowing through Sitapur district of Uttar Pradesh; and

(d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI

( SHRI RAJ BHUSHAN CHOUDHARY )

(a)  &  (b) 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  Government  of  India  provides  financial  and technical support to the States and ULBs under various programs like Namami Gange for the rejuvenation and conservation of 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 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.

National  River  Conservation  Plan ( NRCP)  has  so  far  covered  57  rivers,  including  small  rivers namely,  Nambul  at  Manipur,  Rani  Chu  at  Sikkim,  Zuari  at  Goa,  etc.   spreading  over  17  States  in  the country  with  a  sanctioned  cost  of ₹ 8931.49  crore,  and  inter-alia,  a  sewage  treatment  capacity  of  2941 million litres per day (MLD) has been created.

Under the Namami Gange Programme for rejuvenation of River Ganga and its tributaries, a total of 203  number  of  sewerage  infrastructure  projects  costing  ₹  32,513  crore  have  been  sanctioned  for  the

creation & rehabilitation of Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) with treatment capacity of 6,255 Million Litres per Day (MLD). Sewage Treatment Capacity of 3327 MLD has been created.

As informed by Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), for rejuvenation of polluted river stretches identified,  action  plans  have  been  prepared and  are monitored by River Rejuvenation Committee (RRC) constituted  by  the  State  Government.  Prepared  action  plans  covers  aspects  such  as  Source  control (Municipal sewage management, Industrial pollution control, Waste management), River catchment/Basin Management (Adoption of good irrigation practices, Utilization of treated sewage, Ground water recharge aspects), Flood Plain Zone protection and its management (Setting up of bio-diversity parks, Removal of encroachments,  Rain  water  harvesting,  Plantation  on  both  sides  of  the  river),  Ecological/Environmental Flow (E-Flow) and Watershed management.

The Chief Secretary, Govt. of Uttar Pradesh vide letter dated 05.04.2022 has issued directions for the restoration  and  rejuvenation  of  50  small  rivers  in  the  State  of  Uttar  Pradesh  through  MGNREGA programme at the district level, under the supervision of District Ganga Committees.  Vide this order, a committee  has  been  constituted  under  the  chairmanship  of  Divisional  Commissioner  comprising  the members of 10 State Departments and Agencies to take up the restoration and rejuvenation of small rivers by converging resources available under MGNREGA.

(c)  &  (d) Action  Plan  for  restoration  of  Sarayan  river  in  Sitapur  district  has  been  prepared  by  State Government.   This  Plan  includes  plantation  of  trees,  construction  of  ponds,  restoration  of  drains,  solid waste management, water harvesting and other conservation related works.

It has been informed by the State Government that 1,90,700 plants have been planted in the year 2022-23, 1,20,500 plants in the year 2023-24 and 27,200 plants in the year 2024-25 in the 05 km radius on the Sarayan river.

*****