Lok Sabha Question No. 1255 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-03-03
Subject: Industries Polluting Rivers
Ministry: WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANAGA REJUVENATION
Asked by: PRABHAS KUMAR SINGH, YOGI ADITYANATH, KALIKESH NARAYAN SINGH DEO, NANABHAU FALGUNRAO PATOLE, GOPAL CHINAYYA SHETTY, ABHISHEK SINGH, SUNIL KUMAR MONDAL

THE

MINISTER

FOR

REJUVENATION

(SUSHRI UMA BHARTI)

(a)

The Government has notified standards for discharge of effluents from different industrial sectors under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986,which include discharge into the rivers and lakes. These

standards  are  applicable  for  all  industries  in  the  country  irrespective  of  their  location.  However,  for controlling  river  pollution  particularly  of  Ganga  and  its  tributaries  some  specific  measures  are  being

taken.

(b) to (d) The National Green Tribunal in its order dated November 17th, 2014 in the matter of C.W.P.

No. 3727/ 1985 alongwith 196/2014 has constituted Principal Committee and Implementing Committee

Contd----2

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT & GANGA REJUVENATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1255

ANSWERED ON 03.03.2016

## INDUSTRIES POLLUTING RIVERS

1255.

DR. PRABHAS KUMAR SINGH                      SHRI GOPAL SHETTY

SHRI YOGI ADITYA NATH                             SHRI SUNIL KUMAR MONDAL

SHRI KALIKESH N. SINGH DEO                    SHRI NANA PATOLE

SHRI ABHISHEK SINGH

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

(a)  the  details  of  guidelines  and  norms  fixed  for  discharge  of  chemical  and  other  pollutants  by  the industries/factories located on the banks of major rivers including Ganga, Yamuna, Mahanadi, Godavari,

Damodar etc.;

- (b)  whether  the  Government  has  evaluated  the  'seriously'  polluting  industries/factories  located  on  the banks of such rivers and the quality along with the quantity of discharge produced by them, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (c) whether the Government has taken action against them, if so, the details for the current plan period;
- (d) whether any directions have been issued by the Hon'ble Supreme Court and National Green Tribunal in this regard and if so, the details thereof and the action taken thereon; and
- (e) the measures undertaken by the Government to improve the condition of the said rivers and to ensure strict compliance of norms by the said industries?

## ANSWER

RESOURCES,

RIVER

WATER

DEVELOPMENT

AND

GANGA

to evaluate the criteria for Seriously Polluting Industries (SPI) discharging effluents into the rivers. The committees  have  recommended  33  sectors  of  industries  to  be  referred  as  SPIs.  Based  on  these recommendations, the State Pollution Control Boards have provided the list of SPIs. CPCB will ensure verification of compliance of such units. CPCB has also identified 5 key industrial  sectors namely,  distillery,  sugar,  pulp  &  paper,  tannery  and textile contributing to organic load being disposed of into the river system. Directions have been issued to these  industrial  sectors  to  achieve  water  conservation  and  zero  liquid  discharge.  The  action  plan  for achieving the directions is likely to be implemented by March, 2017. CPCB has also issued directions to Municipal authorities/corporations under section 5 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 for treatment and utilization of sewage for restoration of water quality of rivers. CPCB has communicated to Chief Secretaries of the states regarding the polluted locations on rivers as well as other water bodies to prepare action plan for improvement of these rivers. (e) To control water pollution of river Ganga & its tributaries, the CPCB has formulated an action plan for implementation of zero liquid discharge, water conservation and management practices in water polluting industries. The main points are as under: (i)  Preparation  of  Guidelines  on  techno-economic  feasibility  of  implementation  of  Zero  Liquid Discharge (ZLD), water conservation and management practices in water pollution industries, with special focus on Ganga Basin States. (ii)  Issue  of  directions  to  nine  Ganga  basin  State  Pollution  Control  Board's  directing  them  to follow time bound action plans in Distillery, Sugar, Pulp & Paper, Tannery and Textile sectors. (iii)  Preparation  and  submission  of  action  plans  to  achieve  Zero  Liquid  Discharge  in  Tannery, Distillery and Textiles (Medium, Large and cluster based textile units). (iv) Directions for installation of online effluent monitoring systems (OEMS) were issued to all 17 categories  of  highly  polluting  industries  for  compliance  verification  with  respect  to  notified standards.

(v)  Revised  standards  have  been  notified  for  Sugar  sector  vide  notification  dated  14.01.2016 including  the  treated  effluent  discharge  limit  of  200  lit/tonne  of  cane  crushed  to  reduce  the pollution load.

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