Lok Sabha Question No. 80 (STARRED), answered on 2025-12-04
Subject: Ecological Health Assessment of Thamirabarani River
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Shri Robert Bruce C

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI

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

## LOK SABHA

## STARRED QUESTION NO. *80

ANSWERED ON 04.12.2025

## ECOLOGICAL HEALTH ASSESSMENT OF THAMIRABARANI RIVER

| *80.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             | SHRI ROBERT BRUCE C:                                                                                                                                                                                                                             |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Will                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             | the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:                                                                                                                                                                                                  |
| (a) whether the Government has undertaken any recent assessment of the water quality, ecological health and                                                                                                                                      | (a) whether the Government has undertaken any recent assessment of the water quality, ecological health and                                                                                                                                      |
| flow sustainability of Thamirabarani river in Tamil Nadu, particularly in its stretch passing through Tirunelveli district and if so, the details thereof;                                                                                       | flow sustainability of Thamirabarani river in Tamil Nadu, particularly in its stretch passing through Tirunelveli district and if so, the details thereof;                                                                                       |
| (b) the details of Central funds sanctioned, released and utilised under programmes such as the National                                                                                                                                         | (b) the details of Central funds sanctioned, released and utilised under programmes such as the National                                                                                                                                         |
| River Conservation Plan (NRCP), Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) and Atal Bhujal Yojana (ABY) for river conservation, pollution control and groundwater recharge initiatives connected with Thamirabarani basin during the last five years;              | River Conservation Plan (NRCP), Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) and Atal Bhujal Yojana (ABY) for river conservation, pollution control and groundwater recharge initiatives connected with Thamirabarani basin during the last five years;              |
| (c) whether the Government has taken note of challenges related to declining flow patterns affecting the river and dependent communities in southern Tamil Nadu and if so, the details thereof; and                                              | (c) whether the Government has taken note of challenges related to declining flow patterns affecting the river and dependent communities in southern Tamil Nadu and if so, the details thereof; and                                              |
| (d) the steps being taken by the Government to strengthen river rejuvenation measures, ensure strict enforcement of pollution-control norms and enhance Central monitoring of ecological and hydrological parameters of the Thamirabarani river? | (d) the steps being taken by the Government to strengthen river rejuvenation measures, ensure strict enforcement of pollution-control norms and enhance Central monitoring of ecological and hydrological parameters of the Thamirabarani river? |
| ANSWER                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           | ANSWER                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           |
| THE MINISTER OF JAL SHAKTI (SHRI C R PAATIL)                                                                                                                                                                                                     | THE MINISTER OF JAL SHAKTI (SHRI C R PAATIL)                                                                                                                                                                                                     |
| (a) to (d) : A statement is laid on the Table of the House.                                                                                                                                                                                      | (a) to (d) : A statement is laid on the Table of the House.                                                                                                                                                                                      |

## STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (d) OF STARRED QUESTION NO. *80 TO BE ANSWERED ON 04.12.2025 IN LOK SABHA REGARDING 'ECOLOGICAL HEALTH ASSESSMENT OF THAMIRABARANI RIVER'

(a) Cleaning  and  rejuvenation  of  rivers  is  a  continuous  process.  It  is  the  primary  responsibility  of  the States/Union Territories (UTs) and local bodies to ensure proper treatment of sewage and industrial effluents to the prescribed norms before discharge into rivers, other water bodies, coastal waters or land.

As  per  the  Central  Pollution  Control  Board  (CPCB)  report  on  'Polluted  River  Stretches  for Restoration of Water Quality' through National Water Monitoring Program (NWMP), based on assessment of water quality carried out in 2022 & 2023 i.e 5 different locations/ stretches from Tirunelveli Downstream Side (D/S) To Kallidai - Kurichi, Tirunelveli on the Thamirabarani River, the Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD)  levels  was  ranging  between  4.0  mg/L  to  6.2  mg/L,  placing  the  river  stretch  under  Priority-IV category. As per inputs received from CPCB,  based on sampling taken at 9 locations in Tirunelveli District in  2024 through SPCB, the BOD level is ranging from 2.0mg/L to 3.1mg/L which is showing decrease in BOD levels, which means, an improvement in water quality.

(b) Under National River Conservation Plan (NRCP), one Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) of capacity 24.20 million litres per day (MLD) was set up between 2001 - 2007 at Tirunelveli with a cost of Rs 54.93 crore, for pollution  abatement  river  Thamirabarani.  Atal  Bhujal  Yojana  is  not  implemented  in  Thamirabarani  river basin.  During  the  last  05  years  several  groundwater  recharge  works  have  been  undertaken  by  the  State Government  under  MGNREGS  Scheme  in  the  Districts  falling  under  Thamirabarani  River Basin.  Funds under JJM are not maintained Basin wise.

(c) The  annual  run-off  pattern  depends  on  the  rainfall  pattern  and  the  climatic  conditions  of  a  particular region. As per the Central Water Commission, the annual average run-off of the Thamirabarani River at the Murappanadu site in Tamil Nadu is 22 Million Cubic Metres (MCM) for the period 2014-15 to 2024-25. However, the majority values of the actual run-off varies around this average.

(d) The  Tirunelveli  Municipal  Corporation  has  informed  that  Tamil  Nadu  Government  have  formulated proposals for setting up  of  STPs,  Solid  Waste  Management, Biological Parks, etc. to  contain pollution in Thamirabarani River and River Rejuvenation work is also monitored through River Rejuvenation Committee at  State  level.  Central  Pollution  Control  Boards/SPCB/Pollution  Control  Committee  monitors  river  water quality  and  industries  to  ensure  compliance  of  the  provisions  of  Environment  Protection  Act,1986  and Water(Prevention  &  Control  of  Pollution)  Act,1974.  Central  Water  Commission  monitors  hydrological parameters of the river through three Hydrological Observatories in Thamirabarani River.

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