Lok Sabha Question No. 1483 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-12-08
Subject: Funds for Sewage Treatment Plants
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: HARISH CHANDRA MEENA, RITI PATHAK

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1483

TO BE ANSWERED ON 08.12.2015

## Funds for Sewage Treatment Plants

## 1483. SHRI HARISH MEENA: SHRIMATI RITI PATHAK:

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

- (a)  whether  the  Government  has  taken  any  action  for  containing  the  untreated sewage and industrial waste thrown into the rivers and if so, the details thereof;
- (b)  the  funds  allocated/utilised  by  the  Government  on  Sewage  Treatment  Plants (STP) during the last two years;
- (c) whether the Government is aware that sewage contamination has led to serious health hazards; and
- (d) if so, the corrective steps taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) & (b) 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. This Ministry has been supplementing the efforts of the State Governments in abatement of pollution in identified stretches of various rivers under the National River Conservation Plan (NRCP) & NGRBA (National Ganga River Basin Authority) programme,  for  implementation  of  projects  on  a  cost  sharing  basis  between  the Central and State Governments. The NGRBA programme along with work of Ganga & its  tributaries  is  with  Ministry  of  Water  Resources,  River  Development  &  Ganga Rejuvenation (MoWR,RD&GR)  from 01/08/2014 onwards. Sewage treatment capacity  of  5084  mld  has  been  created  so  far  under  NRCP  &  NGRBA  (upto 01/08/2014) programmes.

During  the  last  two  years, ` 558.95 crore  has  been  released  to  the  State Governments under NRCP & NGRBA (upto 01/08/2014) programmes for implementation  of  various  pollution  abatement  schemes,  which  inter-alia  include interception & diversion of raw sewage, construction of sewerage systems, setting up of sewage treatment plants, low cost sanitation facilities, electric/improved wood crematoria, etc.

State  Governments,  apart  from  their  own  budgetary  allocation,  are  also accessing  financial  assistance  for  creation  of  sewerage  infrastructure,  including sewage treatment plants, in various cities/towns under Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) programme of Ministry of Urban Development and the Namami Gange programme (under NGRBA) of MoWR,RD&GR.

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.  To  improve  the  monitoring  of  compliance,  directions  have been  issued  to  specific  industries  to  install  online  24x7  effluent  and  emission monitoring devices.    Steps have also been taken by CPCB to promote low waste and no waste concept leading to Zero Liquid Discharge by grossly water polluting industries, particularly those located on the river banks.

(c) & (d) Discharge  of  untreated  sewage  is  major  reason  of  pollution  in  rivers and can be a source of health hazards. 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 setting up of  sewage treatment plants 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.

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