Lok Sabha Question No. 1571 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-02-09
Subject: Industrial Pollution in the Country
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Dr. Mohammad Jawed

## MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1571

TO BE ANSWERED ON 09.02.2026

## Industrial Pollution in the Country

## 1571. DR. MOHAMMAD JAWED:

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

- (a) the current status of industrial pollution across the country;
- (b) the details of steps taken by the Government to prevent pollution of rivers due to the discharge of industrial effluents and wastes;
- (c) the  details  of  the  provisions  relating  to  penalties  under  the  existing  laws  for  polluting  rivers  and other water bodies; and
- (d) the number of violations detected and the action taken against industries for polluting major rivers in the  country  during  the  last  five  years,  river  and  State/UT-wise  with  particular  reference  to  rivers flowing through the State of Bihar?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

(SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)

(a) As  per  the  data  provided  by  the  State  Pollution  Control  Boards/Pollution  Control  Committees (SPCBs/PCCs), there are total of 6,09,886 industries in India. Out of which, 5,44,364 industries are operational.  Among  these  operational  industries,  23,981  industries  were  found  non-complying  with environmental  standards,  against  which  actions  by  SPCBs/PCCs  (Closure  Directions:  3600;  Show Cause Notices: 13718; legal cases filed: 229; and Directives: 6434) were taken as per the provisions of the environmental laws.

- (b) Steps taken by the Government for prevention and control of water pollution are given below-
-  The  Central  Pollution  Control  Board  (CPCB),  in  coordination  with  SPCBs/PCCs,  currently monitors water quality at 4,922 locations across the country, including 2,265 river locations.
-  The CPCB has identified polluted river stretches based on the water quality data for rivers with respect to Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) parameter. BOD concentration exceeding 3 mg/l is  identified  as  polluted  stretches.  The  PRS  are  classified  under  Priority  Class  I  to  V,  Priority  I being most polluted with BOD value of more than 30 mg/l and Priority V least polluted with BOD ranging between 3 - 6 mg/l.
-  Based on the identified PRS and for the rejuvenation of these PRS all State Governments and UT Administrations  have  formed  River  Rejuvenation  Committees  (RRCs)  of  the  concerned  states/ UTs; the RRC functions under the overall supervision and coordination of the Principal Secretary, Environment.
-  The RRCs are responsible for developing action plans for the rejuvenation of the PRS identified by CPCB for their respective states/ UTs. The action plans including Industrial pollution control were prepared for bringing the water quality of polluted river stretches to the quality level fit for bathing purposes (i.e. BOD ˂ 3 mg/L). Progress of implementation of action plans are  reviewed by the RRC at State level and Central Monitoring Committee (CMC) constituted under the Chairmanship of Secretary, Ministry of Jal Shakti at Central Level.
-  Govt. of India enacted the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, the Environment (Protection)  Act,  1986  and  notified  different  Rules,  Regulations  based  on  the  said  acts  to implement various Schemes for protection and development of water bodies.
-  As  per  the  provisions  of  the  Environment  (Protection)  Act,  1986  and  the  Water  (Prevention  & Control of Pollution) Act 1974, all industrial units and other establishments generating industrial effluents, are required to comply with the stipulated standards before discharging into rivers and water bodies.
-  CPCB,  State  Pollution  Control  Boards  (SPCB)/Pollution  Control  Committees  (PCCs)  monitor industries  to  ensure  compliance  of  the  provisions  of  the  said  Acts  and  take  necessary  action accordingly. CPCB issued indicative Guidelines for restoration of water bodies' as a guidance to the Stakeholders for ensuring restoration/ rejuvenation of water bodies.
-  Government  of  India  stipulated  General  discharge  standards  and  industry  specific  effluent discharge standards under Environment (Protection) Rules, 1986 with an aim to prevent pollution in the water bodies.
- (c) Under the provisions of Chapter VII of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, and Chapter III of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, the penalties are prescribed for polluting rivers and other water bodies.
- (d) The  action taken against industries for polluting major rivers in the country during the last five years, river and State/UT-wise with particular reference to rivers flowing through the State of Bihar, is submitted as follows:

Closure  directions  issued  by  the  SPCBs  against  non-compliant  Grossly  Polluting  Industries  (GPIs) were  enforced  through  the  respective  District  Administrations  in  coordination  with  the  concerned authorities, and the details of such GPIs located along the river Ganga and its tributaries during the past five years, including those in the State of Bihar, are as follows:

| State         |   2019 |   2020 |   2022 |   2023 |   2024 |
|---------------|--------|--------|--------|--------|--------|
| Bihar         |      9 |      2 |      3 |      5 |      7 |
| Jharkhand     |      1 |      0 |      0 |      0 |      0 |
| Uttar Pradesh |    118 |    176 |    166 |    230 |      3 |
| Uttarakhand   |      2 |      4 |      6 |      2 |     80 |
| West Bengal   |      1 |      5 |      3 |      2 |      8 |
| Total         |    131 |    187 |    178 |    239 |     98 |

Note: Annual inspections for year 2021 shifted to 2022 due to Covid-19 pandemic situation

Further, as per the information received from SPCBs/PCCs, there are total 4,498 GPIs in the country. Out  of  which,  3,637  industries  are  operational.  Among  these  operational  industries,  601  industries were  found  non-complying  with  environmental  standards,  against  which  actions  by  SPCBs/PCCs (Closure Directions: 29; Show Cause Notices: 571; Directives: 1) were taken as per the provision of the environmental laws

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