Lok Sabha Question No. 2048 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-07-31
Subject: Pollution Levels of Rivers in Gujarat
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Shri Mukeshkumar Chandrakaant Dalal

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2048

ANSWERED ON 31.07.2025

## POLLUTION LEVELS OF RIVERS IN GUJARAT

## 2048. SHRI MUKESHKUMAR CHANDRAKAANT DALAL

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has any comprehensive data on the pollution levels of rivers in Gujarat and if so, the details thereof indicating the most severely affected rivers in the State;
- (b) the details of the primary sources of pollution in Gujarat's rivers along with the efforts being made to tackle industrial waste, sewage discharge and plastic pollution in these water bodies;
- (c)  the  specific  initiatives  undertaken  by  the  Government  to  clean  and  rejuvenate  polluted  rivers  in Gujarat under programmes like Namami Gange Mission and other State-level efforts;
- (d) the total financial allocation made for river cleaning projects in Gujarat and the actual expenditure incurred during the last five years; and
- (e) the details of the long-term policies formulated/being formulated to check and prevent further river pollution and  ensure sustainable water resources keeping  in view  the rapid urbanisation and industrialisation in Gujarat?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI

## ( SHRI RAJ BHUSHAN CHOUDHARY )

- (a) As  per  the  report  published  by  Central  Pollution  Control  Board  (CPCB)  in  2022  on  pollution assessment of rivers in the country based on water quality monitoring results in terms of Bio-chemical Oxygen Demand (BOD - An indicator of organic pollution), 13 stretches were identified polluted in the State of Gujarat, with the details as below: -

|   S. | No.River    | Polluted River Stretch/Location   |   MaximumBOD Observed (milligram/litre) | Priority   |
|------|-------------|-----------------------------------|-----------------------------------------|------------|
|    1 | Amlakhadi   | Along Ankleshwar                  |                                    49   | I          |
|    2 | Bhadar      | Along Jetpur                      |                                   258.6 | I          |
|    3 | Dhadar      | Along Kothada                     |                                    33   | I          |
|    4 | Khari       | Along Lali Village                |                                   195   | I          |
|    5 | Sabarmati   | Raysan to Vautha                  |                                   292   | I          |
|    6 | Vishwamitri | Along Khalipur Village            |                                    38   | I          |
|    7 | Mindhola    | Along Sachin                      |                                    28   | II         |
|    8 | Mahi        | Kotna to Mujpur                   |                                    12   | III        |

|   9 | Shedhi     | Along Kheda                         | 6.2   | IV   |
|-----|------------|-------------------------------------|-------|------|
|  10 | Bhogavo    | Along Surendranagar                 | 6.0   | V    |
|  11 | Bhukhi     | KhadiAlong Vagra                    | 3.9   | V    |
|  12 | Damanganga | Along Kachigaon and Along Chanod5.3 |       | V    |
|  13 | Tapi       | Along Nizhar                        | 3.4   | V    |

Out of total identified stretches in Gujarat, polluted river stretches categorized under Priority-I are the most polluted.

(b) to (e) Rivers in the country are polluted mainly due to discharge of untreated or partially treated sewage  from  cities/towns  and  industrial  effluents  in  their  respective  catchments,  dumping  of  solid wastes, agricultural run-off, problems in operation and maintenance of sewage/effluent treatment plants, lack of dilution and other non-point sources of pollution. Rapid urbanization and industrialization have compounded the challenges.

It  is  the  primary  responsibility  of  States/Union  Territories  and  local  bodies  to  ensure  required treatment of sewage and industrial effluents, before discharging into recipient water bodies or land for prevention and control of pollution therein. This Ministry is implementing Namami Gange Program for rejuvenation, protection and management of river Ganga and its tributaries. For conservation of other rivers/tributaries  in  the  country,  the  scheme  of  National  River  Conservation  Plan  (NRCP)  is  under implementation to supplement efforts of the States/UTs on cost sharing basis.

Based on the proposals received, pollution abatement schemes for conservation of Sabarmati, Tapi and Mindhola rivers in Gujarat were sanctioned at a total cost of Rs.1875.29 crore and sewage treatment capacity of 697 million litres per day (MLD) was created. Out of Central share, an amount of Rs.559.56 crore was released during last 5 years for implementation of these projects.

The State Government of Gujarat has informed that sewage treatment capacity of 6105 MLD has been created in the State against total sewage generation of 4414 MLD in order to prevent and control of pollution in rivers due to municipal discharges. Also, to check pollution in rivers due to discharge of industrial  effluents,  water  polluting  units  are  either  having  their  own  effluent  treatment  plants  or connected to common effluent treatment plants.

The schemes of Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT), Smart Cities Mission and Swachh Bharat Mission - Urban under the aegis of Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs are also being implemented which are aimed at creating and/or augmenting sewerage infrastructure in identified towns and thus improving water quality of rivers and other water bodies, sanitation systems and water management in those towns.

Cleaning/rejuvenation of rivers is a continuous and dynamic process. In compliance of the orders of National Green Tribunal in Original Application No.673/2018 regarding polluted river stretches in the country, States/UTs are required to implement action plans for restoration of the said stretches in their jurisdiction.

*****