Lok Sabha Question No. 4406 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-19
Subject: National River Conservation Plan
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Adv Gowaal Kagada Padavi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4406

## ANSWERED ON 19.03.2026

## NATIONAL RIVER CONSERVATION PLAN

## 4406. Adv GOWAAL KAGADA PADAVI:

## Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

(a) the objectives, scope and implementation framework of the National River Conservation Plan (NRCP) including  the  rivers  covered  in  Maharashtra,  specifically  those  flowing  through  or  impacting  the ecological and livelihood landscape of Nandurbar Lok Sabha Constituency;

(b)  the  details  of  the  projects  sanctioned  under  NRCP  during  the  last  five  years  along  with  the Constituency-level details where applicable in Maharashtra including sewage treatment plants, riverfront development works, pollution abatement measures and afforestation initiatives;

(c)  the  total  funds  allocated,  released  and  utilised  for  NRCP  projects  in  Maharashtra,  particularly  in Nandurbar Lok Sabha Constituency, year-wise and the reasons for any delays or underutilisation of funds;

(d) the measurable outcomes achieved under NRCP including improvements in water quality parameters, biodiversity restoration and community participation supported by monitoring data; and

(e)  whether  the  Government  has  documented  any  success  stories  or  best  practices  from  NRCP implementation in Maharashtra that may serve as models for other river conservation projects and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI

## (SHRI RAJ BHUSHAN CHOUDHARY)

(a) & (b) The objective of the National River Conservation Plan (NRCP) is to improve the water quality of rivers, excluding Ganga and its tributaries,  through the implementation of pollution abatement works in various towns located mainly along the polluted stretches of rivers, as identified by the Central Pollution Control  Board  (CPCB)  in  States/Union  Territories  (UT)  including  Maharashtra.  Through  the  Central Sponsored  Scheme  of  NRCP,  efforts  of  State  Governments/  UT  Administrations  are  supplemented  in conservation  of  rivers  by  providing  financial  assistance  on  cost  sharing  basis  for  implementation  of pollution abatement works mainly, Interception & Diversion, sewage treatment plant (STP), faecal sludge treatment plant, river front development, afforestration, etc.

Under  NRCP,  pollution  abatement  projects  have  been  taken  up  for  conservation  of  rivers  namely Krishna  at  Karad;  Panchganga  at  Kolhapur;  Godavari  at  Nanded,  Nashik,  Trimbakeshwar;  Tapi  at

Prakkasha  in  Nandurbar;  Mula-Mutha  at  Pune;  and  Nag  at  Nagpur  at  a  sanctioned  cost  of  Rs.3109.85 crore.  So far, STP capacity of 334 million litres per day (MLD) has been created in Maharashtra.

In the last five years, a project for pollution abatement of Nag River at Nagpur, Maharashtra has been sanctioned under the NRCP. The project includes creation of 102 MLD sewage treatment capacity, 520 kilometres of sewer network, as well as crematoria and cattle shed facilities.

(c) For the ongoing projects in Pune and Nagpur constituencies of Maharashtra, so far, a Central share of about Rs. 674.56 crore and Rs. 167.44 crore  has been released, respectively. No project has been received from  the  State  Government  for  consideration  under  NRCP  for  the  Nandurbar  Lok  Sabha  Constituency during last five years.  Reasons for delay in execution of the above projects may be attributed to delay in appointment of Project Management Consultant by state, cancellation of tender on account of high bids, land acquisition, local challenges, etc.

(d) & (e) As per the CPCB Report of 2025, number of polluted river stretches (PRS) in the country has decreased from 351 in 2018 to 296 in 2025. Further, 149 PRS have been delisted and improvement in water quality is observed in 71 PRS. In case of Maharashtra, improvement in river water quality has been observed where the number of Priority-I stretches has comparatively reduced from 9 to 2, Priority II from 6 to 5 and Priority-III from 14 to 9, in 2025.

Cleaning  of  rivers  is  a  continuous  process.  Water  is  a  'State'  subject  and  it  is  the  primary responsibility  of  States/UTs  to  ensure  proper  treatment  of  sewage  to  the  prescribed  standards  before discharge into the rivers or other water bodies in their catchments. So far, NRCP has covered 58 rivers in 100 towns spread over 17 States including Maharashtra at a total sanctioned cost of Rs 8970.51 crore and sewage treatment capacity of 3019 MLD has been created.

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