Lok Sabha Question No. 2399 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-08-04
Subject: Dumping of Pollutants in Chambal River
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: JAGDAMBIKA PAL

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

**LOK SABHA**

**UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2399**

TO BE ANSWERED ON 04.08.2015

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**Dumping of Pollutants in Chambal River**

2399.	SHRI JAGDAMBIKA PAL:

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

1. whether the Government is aware of the environmental threats caused to Chambal River due to excessive dumping of pollutants including garbage, fertilizer and pesticide runoff, waste from factories etc;

1. if so, the details of the investigation carried out by the Government to assess the harmful impact of such unregulated dumping; and

1. the details of the measures taken by the Government to address the problem and the progress registered in this regard till date?

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### ANSWER

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

1. & (b) Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) along with the State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs) is monitoring water quality of rivers in the country on a regular basis. CPCB in its report of 2015 has identified the stretches of river Chambal from Nagda to Rampura in Madhya Pradesh and from Sawaimadhopur to Kota in Rajasthan as polluted.

Discharge of untreated and partially treated sewage and industrial effluent from cities / towns constitute a major source of pollution in rivers in the country, including Chambal. Agricultural runoff and other non-point sources of pollution like open defecation, runoff from solid waste dump sites etc., also contributes to pollution in rivers. The deterioration in river water quality is likely to impact the people and animals living in its vicinity as the river water is used for irrigation and drinking water supply, besides affecting aquatic flora and fauna present in the river system. The higher salt concentration in river water can also affect the respiratory systems and glands of the fishes disrupting osmotic balance.

(c)	 To control discharge of industrial effluents, CPCB and respective State Pollution Control Boards/Pollution Control Committees monitor industries with respect to effluents discharge standards and take action for non-compliance under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. Steps taken by the Government to control water pollution *inter- ali* a include, promoting common effluent treatment plants for cluster of small scale industries, directing the industries (tanneries, distilleries and textile industries) to achieve Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD), specifying water consumption norms for specific sector of industries, issuing directions for installation of real time (24x7) effluent quality monitoring systems in industries, etc.

The Rajasthan State Pollution Control Board has informed that one common treatment and disposal facility has been developed for disposal of bio-medical waste near village Boravas, Rawatbhata Road.

The Ministry has revised the Municipal Solid Waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 2000 and the draft Solid Waste Management Rules, 2015 have been notified in the Gazette for inviting comments / suggestions.

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 fall into the rivers, thereby polluting them. The Ministry is supplementing the efforts of the State Governments in pollution abatement of various rivers through the Centrally Sponsored Scheme of National River Conservation Plan (NRCP). Under the NRCP, for conservation and pollution abatement of river Chambal at Keshoraipatan and Kota in Rajasthan schemes pertaining to interception & diversion of sewage, sewage treatment plants [36 million litres per day (mld)], community toilets, river front development, and crematoria have been sanctioned at a total cost of Rs.150.95 crore and expenditure of Rs.58.42 crore has so far been incurred on the sanctioned works. Similarly, for pollution abatement of river Chambal at Nagda in Madhya Pradesh, schemes pertaining to interception & diversion of sewage, sewage treatment plants, community toilets and crematoria have been implemented at a cost of Rs.3.10 crore and sewage treatment capacity of 9 mld has been created in the town.

Further, CPCB has issued directions under Section 18 1(b) of Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 in April, 2015 to Rajasthan and Madhya State Pollution Control Boards/Pollution Control Committees regarding treatment and utilization of sewage generated in towns in their respective States.

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