Lok Sabha Question No. 404 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-02-25
Subject: Pollution in Rivers
Ministry: WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANAGA REJUVENATION
Asked by: ANANT KUMAR DATTATREYA HEGDE, YOGI ADITYANATH, RAVINDRA KUMAR PANDEY, LAXMI NARAYAN YADAV

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 404

ANSWERED ON 25.02.2016

## POLLUTION IN RIVERS

| 404. SHRIANANTKUMAR HEGDE                | SHRI YOGI ADITYA NATH                    |
|------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------|
| SHRI RAVINDRA KUMAR PANDEY               | SHRILAXMINARAYAN YADAV                   |
| SHRI SUNIL KUMAR SINGH                   | SHRI A. ARUNMOZHITHEVAN                  |
| SHRI MD. BADARUDDOZA KAHN                | SHRI JITENDRA CHAUDHURY                  |
| SHRI RAJESH KUMARDIWAKER                 | SHRI SULTAN AHMED                        |
| SHRIMATI SAKUNTALA LAGURI                | SHRI SANGANNA AMARAPPA                   |
| SHRI HARISH CHANDRA ALIAS HARISH DWIVEDI | SHRI HARISH CHANDRA ALIAS HARISH DWIVEDI |
| Will the Minister of WATER RESOURCES,    | RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANGA              |

- (a) the names of rivers and their stretches identified as polluted in the country along with the reasons for the same, State/UT-wise;
- (b) whether the Government is aware of the presence of toxic substances, heavy metals, antibiotics and other harmful chemical pollutants in several rivers including Ganga and Yamuna;
- (c) if so, the details and extent thereof along with impact of such pollutants on the drinking water supply in the areas wherein supply is made through these rivers particularly Yamuna;
- (d) whether the Government has prepared and implemented a comprehensive plan in this regard, if so, the details thereof along with the funds allocated/released/ utilized including success achieved thereunder so far, State/UT/River-wise; and
- (e) the future strategy of the Government to make all the rivers particularly Ganga and Yamuna pollution free?

## ANSWER

THE HON'BLE MINISTER FOR WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANGA REJUVENATION (SUSHRI UMA BHARTI)

- (a) As per the report published by Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) in February 2015, CPCB  has  identified  302  polluted  river  stretches  on  275  rivers  of  the  country  based  on Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) levels in river waters, a key indicator of organic pollution.

(b)  Yes,  Madam.  The  Government  is  aware  of  the  pollution  in  river  water  in  the  country. Pollution abatement in river Ganga and its tributaries is being undertaken by this Ministry under

Namami Gange programme, while Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MoEF& CC) is supplementing the efforts of the State Governments in abatement of pollution in identified stretches of various rivers under the National River Conservation Plan (NRCP).

(c) The Ministry of Drinking Water & Sanitation and Public Health Departments of the States as well  as  the  respective  urban  local  bodies  ensure  that  clean  drinking  water  is  provided  to  the citizens in their jurisdiction.

(d)  &  (e)  Pollution  abatement  of  rivers  is  a  continuous  and  ongoing  process.  It  is  the responsibility  of the  State  Governments/ concerned local bodies to set up proper facilities for collection, transportation and treatment of sewage being generated and ensure that untreated waste water does not fall into the rivers  thereby  polluting  them. This  Ministry  and  Ministry  of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MoEF&CC) have been supplementing the efforts of the State  Governments in abatement of pollution in identified stretches of river  Ganga and other rivers under the NGRBA  (National Ganga  River Basin Authority) and National River Conservation Plan (NRCP) programmes respectively.

Various  pollution  abatement  schemes  taken-up  under  the  programmes,  inter-alia,  include interception & diversion of raw sewage, construction of sewerage systems, setting up of sewage treatment plants, low cost sanitation facilities, electric/improved wood crematoria and river front development.

Under NGRBA, 96 schemes including 83 investment projects in 53 towns in Ganga States have been sanctioned at a total cost of Rs. 8383.13 crore. Of these, 27 projects have been completed so far.  Rs. 1501.32 crore has been released by the Centre including the matching share of the States so far and a total expenditure of Rs. 1664.73 has been incurred till December 2015 for implementation of these projects.

MOEF&CC,  through  NRCP  has  covered  polluted  stretches  of  31  rivers  (non-  Ganga  Basin rivers) in 75 towns spread over 14 States at a sanctioned cost of Rs.4517.82 crore. Till January, 2016,  an  amount  of  Rs.1941.86  crore  has  been  released  to  various  State  Governments  for implementation  of  various  pollution  abatement  schemes  and  a  treatment  capacity  of  2373 million  litres  per  day  (mld)  has  been  created  so  far  under  NRCP  (excluding  Ganga  and  its tributaries).

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