Rivers in the country are polluted and contaminated mainly due to discharge of untreated and partially treated sewage from cities/towns and industrial effluents in their respective catchments. Non-point source of pollution like erosion, transportation and sedimentation of rocks, soils, agriculture runoff, open defecation and runoff from solid waste dumping sites, etc. also contribute to pollution of river.

 

Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) in association with State Pollution Control Boards(SPCBs)/Pollution Control Committee (PCCs) in different States/ Union Territories (UTs) have been monitoring water quality of rivers and other water bodies across the country through a network of monitoring stations under the National Water Quality Monitoring Programme. As per the last report published by CPCB in September 2018, 351 polluted stretches have been identified on 323 rivers based on monitoring results of 521 rivers in the country in terms of Bio-chemical Oxygen Demand (BOD), an indicator of organic pollution.

 

Based on the assessment of water quality, various measures are being taken both by the Central and the State Government to prevent pollution of rivers and drains out-falling into them. River cleaning is a continuous process and the Central Government assists the State Governments and urban local bodies through schemes like ‘Namami Gange’ and National River Conservation Plan (NRCP) of Ministry Jal Shakti. NRCP has so far covered polluted stretches on 34 rivers in 77 towns spread over 16 States in the country with a sanctioned cost of Rs.5961.75 crore, and inter-alia, a sewage treatment capacity of 2677 million litres per day (mld) has been created. State/UT-wise details of financial assistance provided for cleaning of rivers other than river Ganga under National River Conservation Plan are given at Annexure.

 

Under the Namami Gange programme a total of 364 projects, including 160 projects for sewage treatment of 5024 mld and sewer network of 5227 kms, have been sanctioned at a cost of Rs.30853 crore. In addition, assistance is also provided for sewerage and solid waste management works under Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) and Smart City Mission of Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, etc. Further, priority for effective rejuvenation of small rivers has been accorded under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS).

 

Discharge of industrial effluents is monitored by the CPCB and the respective SPCBs/ PCCs through the provisions of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 and the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974. Besides, in compliance of the order of National Green Tribunal (NGT) in Original Application No.673 of 2018 regarding polluted river stretches in the country, State/UTs are required to implement action plan for restoration of the said stretches, including in-situ treatment of drains out-falling into the polluted river stretches, in their jurisdiction within the stipulated timelines. As per the order of NGT, regular review is undertaken in the States/UTs and also at Central level.

This Information was given by the Minister of State for Jal Shakti,  Shri Bishweswar Tudu in a written reply in Rajya Sabha today.

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BY/AS

 

ANNEXURE

 

State/UT-wise details of rivers covered under NRCP, financial assistance provided and sewage treatment plant (STP) capacity created (excluding Ganga and its tributaries)

 (Rs. in crore)

S. No.	State	Rivers covered	Sanctioned Cost	Funds Released by Central Govt.	STP capacity created (in mld)
1	Andhra Pradesh	Godavari	21.78	259.80	30.00
2	Telangana	Godavari & Musi	345.72		621.46
3	Jammu & Kashmir	Devika & Tawi	186.74	60.00	0
4	Jharkhand	Subarnarekha	3.14	4.26	0
5	Gujarat	Sabarmati,  Mindola & Tapi	1779.78	562.88	488.00
6	Goa	Mandovi	14.09	9.26	12.50
7	Karnataka	Tunga,  Bhadra, Tungabhadra, Cauvery & Pennar	66.25	47.83	41.64
8	Maharashtra	Godavari, Tapi, Krishna, Panchganga & Mula Mutha.	1182.86	208.95	260.00
9	Madhya Pradesh	Wainganga, Narmada & Tapti.	20.16	12.46	7.95
10	Manipur	Nambul	97.72	38.00	0
11	Odisha	Brahmini, Mahanadi Coastal Area (Puri)	92.74	63.40	50.00
12	Punjab	Ghaggar, Beas  & Satluj	774.43	516.14	663.20
13	Tamil Nadu	Adyar, Cooum, Vaigai, Vennar, Cauvery & Tamrabarani	908.13	623.65	477.66
14	Kerala	Pamba	18.45	7.78	4.50
15	Sikkim	Rani Chu	371.11	211.43	20.12
16	Nagaland	Diphu and Dhansiri	78.65	54.50	0
Total			5961.75	2680.34	2677.03

 

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