It is the primary responsibility of States/Union Territories (UTs) and Urban Local Bodies to ensure the required treatment of sewage and industrial effluents to the prescribed norms before discharging into the rivers and other water bodies. The Govt of India is supporting the efforts of States/ UTs through schemes like Namami Gange programme, National River Conservation Plan (NRCP) and Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) for pollution abatement of rivers in the country.

The local authorities, communities and NGOs are involved in the efforts for reduction in river pollution across the country, including the States of Karnataka and Maharashtra. Some of the initiatives taken for the involvement of stakeholders in river conservation are as below:

• Nationwide, various initiatives have been taken to promote the cleanliness of the rivers, sanitation, and solid waste management under the Swachh Bharat Mission.

• Jal Shakti Abhiyan is launched by the Ministry of Jal Shakti for water conservation and management, reviving water bodies including rivers, public awareness, involvement of local bodies and communities, and promoting efficient irrigation etc.

• The Ganga Utsav is celebrated as a tribute to the holy Ganges, emphasizing river rejuvenation and environmental awareness. Nation wide exercise was conducted in Nov 2021 to raise public awareness about the importance of rivers and their conservation.

• Through Jan Ganga, the National Mission on Clean Ganga (NMCG) intends to foster a collective community-driven approach that ensures sustainability of the Ganga River.

• The Hon'ble Prime Minister asked all local village heads to take steps for conservation of water and exhorted them to make water conservation as a mass movement.

• In February 2025, under the public awareness campaign, various activities, such as cultural programme, Aarti on the banks of rivers, river cleaning drives, yatras, slogans/drawing/essay competitions etc, were carried out at various places in Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Chhattisgarh, Jammu and Kashmir, Kerala, Manipur, Maharashtra, Nagaland Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Orissa, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand, etc. for awareness/participation of Public in conservation of rivers.

Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), State Pollution Control Boards (SPCB)/Pollution Control Committees (PCCs), and NMCG monitor industries and sewage treatment plants with respect to effluent discharge standards and take punitive action against the non-complying industries and local bodies under the provisions of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, and the Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974.

As per CPCB, closure directions have been issued to 73 grossly polluting industries, for non-compliance with the standard.

Further, the National Green Tribunal has also levied penalties on various concerned authorities for non-compliance with environmental regulations.

This information was provided by THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI, SHRI RAJ BHUSHAN CHOUDHARY, in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha today.

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DHANYA SANAL K

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