Lok Sabha Question No. 530 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-07-23
Subject: Pollution in Rivers
Ministry: WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANAGA REJUVENATION
Asked by: P.P. CHAUDHARY, DODDAALAHALLI KEMPEGOWDA SURESH, PRATHAP SIMHA, CHANDRA PRAKASH JOSHI, B.N. CHANDRAPPA, JAY PRAKASH NARAYAN YADAV, LAKHAN LAL SAHU, MANOJ RAJORIA, KRISHN PRATAP SINGH, BANSHILAL MAHTO, GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF WATER RESOURCES,

River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation

**LOK SABHA**

**UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.  †530**

ANSWERED ON 23.07.2015

**Pollution in Rivers**

†530.	 SHRI P.P. CHAUDHARY

SHRI D.K. SURESH

SHRI PRATHAP SIMHA

SHRI CHANDRA PRAKASH JOSHI

SHRI B.N. CHANDRAPPA

SHRI JAI PRAKASH NARAYAN YADAV

SHRI LAKHAN LAL SAHU

DR. MANOJ RAJORIA

DR. KRISHAN PRATAP

DR. BANSHILAL MAHATO

SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT

Will the Minister of WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANGA REJUVENATION be pleased to state:

(a) the details of the rivers and river stretches identified as polluted in the country along with the reasons for the same, State-wise;

(b) whether the Government has prepared a comprehensive programme for cleaning the said rivers, if so, the details thereof along with the progress made in cleaning the said rivers;

(c) whether the Government proposes to take steps to clean all polluted rivers with coordination of other ministries and if so, the details thereof;

(d) the quantum of funds released and utilized under various programmes to clean the polluted rivers so far, State/river-wise; and

(e) the other steps taken/to be taken to clean the polluted rivers along with checking of industrial waste into them?

## ANSWER

The MinistER of STATE FOR Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation

(PROF.SANWAR LAL JAT)

1. The pollution load in rivers has increased over the years due to rapid urbanisation, industrialisation and discharge of untreated wastewater on account of inadequate treatment facilities. As per the report published by Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) in February 2015, 302 polluted stretches have been identified on 275 rivers based on Bio-chemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) levels, a key indicator of organic pollution.

Contd…p/2

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(b) & (c) Yes, Madam. Pollution abatement of rivers is an ongoing and collective effort of the Central & State Governments. It is the responsibility of the State Governments/concerned local bodies to set up proper facilities for collection and treatment of sewage generated and ensuring that it is not discharged into the rivers. Ministry of Urban Development (MoUD), Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MoEF&CC) and this Ministry are supplementing the efforts of the State Governments in abatement of pollution in identified stretches of various rivers under different programmes such as JNNURM, National River Conservation Plan (NRCP) & National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA) programmes for implementation of projects on a cost sharing basis. Various pollution abatement schemes taken-up under the porgramme, inter-alia include interception & diversion of raw sewage, construction of sewage systems, setting up of sewage treatment plants, low cost sanitation facilities, electric/improved wood crematoria and river front development.

4. NRCP (excluding Ganga Action Plan (GAP), phase 1, phase II & NGRBA programme) covered polluted stretches of 40 rivers in 121 towns spread over 19 states at a sanctioned cost of Rs. 5779.28 crore. Sewage treatment capacity of 3833.49 million litres per day (mld) has been created so far under NRCP.

**State-wise Expenditure under the GAP and NGRBA incurred so far.**

| **Sl. No.**   | **State**     | **Total expenditure Rs. Crore**   |                           | **Total Expenditure**   |
|---------------|---------------|-----------------------------------|---------------------------|-------------------------|
|               |               | **GAP-I&II till 31.03.2013**  | **NGRBA till 31.03.2015** |                         |
| 1             | Uttarakhand   | 54.79                             | 72.16                     | 125.95                  |
| 2             | Uttar Pradesh | 384.44                            | 659.32                    | 1043.76                 |
| 3             | Bihar         | 55.77                             | 75.53                     | 131.30                  |
| 4             | Jharkhand     | 0.25                              | 0.97                      | 1.22                    |
| 5             | West Bengal   | 443.32                            | 369.66                    | 812.98                  |
|               | Total         | **938.57**                        | **1177.64**               | **2115.21**             |

Under YAP –I & II, a total of 305 schemes have been sanctioned for undertaking pollution abatement activities in the identified polluted stretches of the river Yamuna, of which 297 schemes have been completed. A capacity to treat 942 mld (YAP-I: 753 mld, YAP-II: 189 mld) have been established.  The total expenditure incurred on conservation of river Yamuna under the YAP Phase – I & II is Rs. 1514.42 crore.

(e)	The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has inventoried 764 Grossly Polluting Industries (GPIs) along the main stem of River Ganga. The CPCB has issued directions under Section 5 of Environment Protection Act (EP Act) to 200 industries and directions under Section 18 (1) (b) of the Water (PCP) Act, 1974 to 178 industries. CPCB has issued closure directions to 68 units. The Uttar Pradesh State Pollution Control Board has issued closure directions to 98 tanneries for operating without the consent of the Board on the directions of Hon’ble National Green Tribunal.

CPCB has issued directions to GPI units to install real time monitoring system to monitor the quality of the effluent discharged. CPCB has also issued sector-wise time-bound directions to the industries to implement Zero Liquid Discharge.

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