Lok Sabha Question No. 1478 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-12-08
Subject: Capacity of Sewage Treatment Plants
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: SUPRIYA SADANAND SULE

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1478

TO BE ANSWERED ON 08.12.2015

## Capacity of Sewage Treatment Plants

1478. SHRIMATI SUPRIYA SULE:

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

- (a) whether the Government /Central Pollution Control Board has taken note of the fact  that  nearly  37000  million  litres  per  day  of  untreated  sewage  water  flows  into rivers across the country because of the wide gap between sewage generation and treatment capacity;
- (b) if so, the response of the Government thereto along with the plan to increase the sewage treatment capacity in the country;
- (c) whether there is a provision that makes it mandatory for industries and factories to treat the industrial waste water before being released into water resources, and if so, the details thereof; and
- (d)  if  not,  the  manner  in  which  the  Government  plans  to  dissuade  industries  from releasing untreated waste water into water resources?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) & (b)  As per the report of Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) published in March  2015,  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).

Proper treatment & disposal of sewage generated in towns is the responsibility of the concerned State Governments/local bodies so that the untreated sewage is not discharged into rivers & other water bodies, thereby polluting them. 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. Various  pollution  abatement  schemes  taken-up under  the  programmes,  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 and river front development. 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.

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.

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.

(c)  &  (d)    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.

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