Lok Sabha Question No. 1575 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-12-08
Subject: Water Pollution
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: ELUMALAI VELLAIGOUNDER

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1575

TO BE ANSWERED ON 08.12.2015

## Water Pollution

1575. SHRI ELUMALAI V. :

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

- (a) whether most of the rivers and dug well water in the country contains Coliform bacteria much above the permitted level and if so, the details thereof; and
- (b) whether pathetic state of sanitation is the main reason for this and if so, the steps taken by the Government to improve the situation?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI PRAKASH JAVADEKAR)

- (a) Central  Pollution  Control  Board  (CPCB)  in  association  with  State  Pollution Control  Boards/  Pollution  Control  Committees  is  assessing  the  river  water  and ground water quality at 1275 locations and 807 locations respectively in the country. Total  &  Faecal  coliforms,  which  indicate  presence  of  pathogens  in  water  are conforming  to  the  desired  levels  in  47%  observations  and  62%  observations respectively  in  river  water  samples,  whereas  the  coliform  bacteria  limit  in  ground water samples is exceeding at 667 out of the 807 locations.
- (b) Discharge  of  untreated  domestic  sewage  is  a  major  source  of  coliform contamination in rivers as well as ground water. As per the recent study (2014-15) carried  out  by  CPCB,  the  sewage  generation  from  urban  areas  is  estimated  at around 62,000 mld, whereas the total treatment capacity available is only 23,277 mld (37% of the sewage generation). 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 sewage  does  not  pollute  rivers  and  water  bodies.  The  Government  has  been supplementing  the  efforts  of  the  State  Governments  for  creation  of  sewerage infrastructure  and  setting  up  of  sewage  treatment  plants  by  providing  financial assistance under various Central schemes, including the National River Conservation Plan (NRCP) programme of the Ministry,  Namami Gange programme

of Ministry of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation and Atal Mission  for  Rejuvenation  and  Urban  Transformation  (AMRUT)  programme  of Ministry  of  Urban  Development.    Further,  a  comprehensive  programme  has  also been launched by the Government in 2014 under 'Swachh Bharat Abhiyan', which includes  total  sanitation  coverage  and  eradication  of  open  defecation  by  providing access to toilet facilities to the people.

CPCB has  issued directions under Section 18 1(b) of the Water (Prevention and  Control  of  Pollution)  Act,  1974  in  April,  2015  to  the  State  Pollution  Control Board/Pollution  Control  Committees  regarding  treatment  and  utilization  of  sewage generated in their respective States.  CPCB has also issued directions in October, 2015 to 178 towns under Section 5 of Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 for proper treatment and disposal of sewage generated in their jurisdiction.

*****