Lok Sabha Question No. 60 (STARRED), answered on 2015-07-23
Subject: Cleaning of Ganga
Ministry: WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANAGA REJUVENATION
Asked by: PRAHLAD SINGH PATEL, KRISHNAN NARAYANASAMY RAMACHANDRAN

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF WATER RESOURCES,

RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANGA REJUVENATION

**LOK SABHA**

**STARRED QUESTION NO  †*60.**

ANSWERED ON 23.07.2015

**Cleaning of Ganga**

†*60. 	SHRI PRAHLAD SINGH PATEL

SHRI K.N. RAMACHANDRAN

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

(a) the factors responsible for polluting the Ganga river along with the details of projects/schemes undertaken so far for cleaning it including the funds allocated, released and utilised thereunder during the last three years and the current year, State-wise;

(b) whether the Government is aware that untreated sewage waste along with other harmful chemicals are being discharged in the river Ganga from various sources including factories/industries located on its bank and if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether the Government proposes to enact any criminal law against the offenders and if so, the details thereof;

(d) whether any Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) have been signed with various internal and external agencies for cleaning the river Ganga and if so, the details thereof; and

(e) the concrete action plan of the Government including new technologies and mechanism being adopted for cleaning the river Ganga along with time-frame fixed for the purpose?

## ANSWER

The MiniSTER of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation

(Sushri UMA BHARTI)

(a) to (e)       A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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**Statement referred to in reply to parts (a) To (e) of Lok Sabha Starred Question No.60 to be answered on Thursday, the 23** **rd** **July, 2015 on ‘Cleaning of Ganga’ raised by Shri Prahlad Singh Patel and Shri K.N.Ramachandran**

1. There are several factors responsible for polluting the Ganga river, the major factors being the direct discharge of industrial effluents and discharge of untreated sewage into the river Ganga. Under the Namami Gange programme, the Government proposes to take up these pollution issues along with several other initiatives to address the abatement of pollution in Ganga.

The funds made available and utilized during the last three years and current year are as under:

| Financial Year   |   Budget  (Rs.Crore) | Actual Expenditure  (Rs.Crore)   |
|------------------|----------------------|----------------------------------|
| 2012-13          |               193.50 | 191.53                           |
| 2013-14          |                  309 | 303.95                           |
| 2014-15          |                 2053 | 326                              |
| 2015-16          |                 2750 | 263*                             |

*till date

1. Yes, Madam. The Government is aware that untreated sewage waste along with other harmful chemicals are being discharged in the Ganga from various sources including factories/industries located on its bank. The Government has identified that Sewage accounts for about 75% of total pollution in river Ganga. Almost 3535 Million Litres per day (mld) sewage is estimated to be generated by class I & II towns on the Ganga main stem.  144 drains have been identified that discharge sewage and effluents into the river Ganga. Further, about 14000 metric tonnes / day of solid waste is generated in these main stem towns. Industrial effluents account for 20-25% of the pollution. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) under the Pollution Inventorization Assessment and Surveillance Project (PIAS) has inventorised 764 Grossly Polluting Industries along the main stem of River Ganga.

(c) The existing legislations i.e., the Water Prevention and Control of Pollution Act, 1974 and the Environment Protection Act, 1986 provides for penal action against the offenders. Further, a committee has been formed to examine new legislative measures.

(d) A list of MOUs signed is appended. In particular, Memorandum of Understanding for use of geospatial technology for Clean Ganga Mission has been signed between the National Mission for Clean Ganga and the National Remote Sensing Centre on 23 rd June 2015 for utilizing the space and other cutting edge technology for effective planning and monitoring the activities taken up for Clean Ganga Mission.

(e)	Cleaning of the river Ganga is a massive task. The preparation of Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) for all 118 priority towns is expected to be completed by 2016 and for industries  by 2017. Most of the Sewage Treatment Plants are expected to be operational by 2019.

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