Lok Sabha Question No. 512 (STARRED), answered on 2026-03-30
Subject: Special Mechanism for Monitoring Environmental/Groundwater Pollution
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Shri Patel Umeshbhai Babubhai

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 512

TO BE ANSWERED ON 30.03.2026

## Special Mechanism for Monitoring Environmental/Groundwater Pollution

## *512. SHRI PATEL UMESHBHAI BABUBHAI:

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

- (a) the number of companies currently discharging toxic chemicals into the environment in excess of the prescribed standards in Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu;
- (b)  the  details  of  inspections  carried  out  by  the  Central  Pollution  Control  Board  and  the  State Pollution Control Board to check the water quality of Kolak and Damanganga rivers during the years 2021-2026, year-wise, including the date of inspection, number of reports and violations observed;
- (c) the details of number of industries or Common Effluent Treatment Plants against which showcause notices and closure orders were issued so far as well as environmental compensation was imposed based on the said inspections;
- (d) whether the Government proposes to set up any special mechanism or Special Task Force for monitoring environmental/groundwater pollution in the said Union Territories (UTs), if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (e) the number of pharmaceutical companies provided with tax-exemption in the said UTs; and
- (f) whether the subsidies provided to such polluting companies/factories have been stopped?

## ANSWER

MINISTER FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI BHUPENDER YADAV)

(a) to (f): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO   PARTS (A) TO (F) IN RESPECT OF LOK SABHA  STARRED  QUESTION  NO.  512  FOR  REPLY  ON  30.03.2026  REGARDING 'SPECIAL MECHANISM FOR MONITORING ENVIRONMENTAL/GROUNDWATER POLLUTION' ASKED BY SHRI PATEL UMESHBHAI BABUBHAI.

(a) to (f)

Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) in collaboration with State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs)/  Pollution  Control  Committees  (PCCs)  monitors  water  quality  of  surface  waters (rivers/lakes) and coastal waters in a nationwide network of locations under National Water Quality Monitoring Programme (NWMP). In the Damanganga river, there are 13 monitoring locations out of which 10 are located in DNH & DD, and 3 are in Gujarat.  The Kolak River has 2 monitoring locations in Gujarat.

The DNH&DD PCC during 2021-26 has conducted 40 inspections to check the water quality of  Kolak  and  Damanganga  rivers.  A  total  of  560  reports  have  been  generated  during  the mentioned period. The year-wise data is as follows:

|   Year |   No. of Inspections |   No. of Reports |
|--------|----------------------|------------------|
|   2021 |                   12 |              168 |
|   2022 |                   12 |              168 |
|   2023 |                    0 |                0 |
|   2024 |                   12 |              168 |
|   2025 |                    4 |               56 |
|   2026 |                    0 |                0 |

As per report submitted by Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB), during 2021-26, 310 inspections has been done to check the water quality of Kolak and Damanganga rivers. The water quality data monitored under NWMP is uploaded on CPCB website at https://cpcb.nic.in/nwmp-data/.

CPCB carried  out  inspection  of  six  industries,  including  one  Common  Biomedical  Waste Treatment Facility (CBMWTF) during the period 2023 to 2025 and in one case Show-Cause Notice (SCN) was issued and in three cases directions for compliance were issued. Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB) has informed that they have issued 196 show cause notices, 36 Notice of Directions and 36 Directions during the period January 2025 to February 2026. Based on the inspections carried out by DNH&DD PCC from 01.01.2025 till date, the PCC has issued a total of 28 closure orders, 2 notices of directions, and 35 show-cause notices to industries  under the provisions of the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 and the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974.

The Pollution Control Committee, Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu, is empowered under Sections 21 and 23 of the Water Act and Sections 24 and 26 of the Air Act to conduct inspection and monitoring, including collection of samples for analysis. 11 Nos. of technical staff are designated to enforce the environmental compliances to the industries established/operating in the UT of DNH&DD.

Further, the Collector & District Magistrate of Daman has issued an order, dated 11.02.2026 to prevent over-exploitation of groundwater resources, ensure long-term water security and maintain environmental balance for present and future generations in Daman district.  As per the order, all industries with minimum area of 3000 Square Feet plinth/roof area operating in

Daman district shall provide mandatory rainwater harvesting / recharge  of water table and industries to adopt latest water efficient technologies to reduce dependence on ground water resources.  The  order  further  provides  for  a  committee  for  compliance,  comprising  of  the Deputy Collector, the Executive Engineer (PWD) and the Mamlatdar of Daman.

As per the information provided by the administration of UT of DNH&DD, presently, no tax exemption benefit is provided to pharmaceutical companies under the Goods and Service Tax  (GST)  Act  in  the  Dadra  and  Nagar  Haveli  district.  Further,  subsidies  under  the Investment  Promotion  Scheme  are  provided  to  only  those  companies/factories  that  have obtained a valid Consent to Operate (CTO) certificate from the Pollution Control Committee of the Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu.

*****