It is responsibility of State/UTs, Local Bodies and Industrial Units to ensure required treatment of sewage and industrial effluents in sewage treatment plants (STPs)/ effluent treatment plant (ETPs)/common effluent treatment plants (CETPs) to the prescribed norms before discharging in to river and other water bodies, coastal waters or land to prevent and control of pollution therein.

This Ministry, through the Centrally Sponsored Scheme of National River Conservation Plan (NRCP) has been supplementing efforts of the States/UTs by providing financial and technical assistance for abatement of pollution in identified stretches of rivers, excluding river Ganga and its tributaries, on cost sharing basis. Different pollution abatement projects admissible under NRCP include sewerage networks, interception and diversion works, sewage treatment plants (STPs), etc.

Proposals for pollution abatement works in towns/cities along polluted river stretches are received from the States/UTs from time to time for consideration under the NRCP, and sanctioned on cost sharing basis based on their prioritization, conformity with NRCP guidelines, availability of Plan funds, etc. Under this scheme, conservation of three rivers in Punjab namely Ghaggar, Satluj and Beas were sanctioned at a total cost of Rs. 774.43 crores. With the implementation of these schemes, a sewage treatment capacity of 663.20 mld has been created in 18 towns, so far.

As per the provisions of Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 and Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution), Act 1974, industrial units are required to install effluent treatment plants (ETPs) and treat their effluents to comply with stipulated environmental standards before discharging into river and water bodies.

Besides, in compliance of the orders of National Green Tribunal (NGT) in Original Application No.673/2018 regarding rejuvenation of polluted river stretches in the country, States/UTs are required to implement approved action plans for restoration of the polluted stretches in their jurisdiction as identified by CPCB and published in their report of 2018, within the stipulated timelines. As per the orders of NGT, regular review on implementation of action plans is undertaken in the States/UTs and also at Central level by Secretary, Department of Water Resource, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation, Ministry of Jal Shakti, Govt. of India.

As per information provided by Punjab Pollution Control Board, a task force under the chairmanship of Hon’ble Member of Parliament, Amritsar has been nominated by Govt. of Punjab on 19.08.2021 with the stakeholder departments as its members to work out a plan for cleaning and rejuvenation, of Tung Dhab drain.

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

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