Toxic waste or hazardous waste generated from hazardous waste industries is required to be disposed off in an environmentally sound manner and in accordance with the provisions of Hazardous and Other Waste (Management & Transboundary Movement) Rules, 2016 and amendment made thereof under the Environment (Protection) Rules, 1986. As per Rules, toxic wastes are not allowed to be discharged into rivers.

Cleaning and rejuvenation of rivers is a continuous process. It is the responsibility of the States/Union Territories (UTs), Local Bodies and Industrial Units to ensure required treatment of sewage and industrial effluents to the prescribed norms before discharging into rivers and other water bodies, coastal waters or land to prevent and control of pollution therein. For conservation and rejuvenation of rivers, this Ministry has been supplementing efforts of the States/UTs by providing financial and technical assistance for abatement of pollution in identified stretches of rivers in the country through the Central Sector Scheme of Namami Gange for rivers in Ganga basin, and Centrally Sponsored Scheme of National River Conservation Plan (NRCP) for rivers in the other basins.

NRCP has so far covered polluted stretches on 34 rivers in 77 towns spread over 16 States in the country with the project sanctioned cost of Rs.6050.18 crore, and inter-alia, a sewage treatment capacity of 2677 million litres per day (mld) has been created. 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.

Under NRCP, Wildlife Institute of India (WII), Dehradun has been engaged for assessment of the Ecological status of selected Indian rivers namely Cauvery, Godavari, Periyar, Mahanadi, Narmada & Barak at a sanctioned cost of Rs. 24.56 crore in September, 2020. So far, Rs. 1.4 crore has been released to the Institute in the last three years including current year. Under Namami Gange programme, fund is provided to institutes/organizations like Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur, Survey of India, National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (N.E.E.R.I), The Energy Research Institute (T.E.R.I), IIT Delhi and IIT Roorkee for activities related to research and development. An amount of Rs.50.1 crore has been released to these institutes since 2018-19.

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. Accordingly, Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs) and Pollution Control Committees (PCCs) monitor industries with respect to effluent discharge standards and take action for non-compliance under provisions of these Acts.

According to CPCB, there are 2839 Grossly Polluting Industries (GPIs) in the country which are discharging their effluents in various water bodies. Out of total 2839 industries, 2186 industries are operational and 653 industries are self-closed. The number of complying and non-complying units are 2055 and 131 respectively. Action taken against the non-complying units includes issue of show-cause notices to 55 units, issue of closure directions to 56 units and filing of legal cases against 2 units.

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.

Setting up of sewage treatment plants (STPs) for treatment of waste water is an integral and major component of river conservation /rejuvenation programmes. Sewerage infrastructure including STP is also created under programs like Atal Mission for Rejuvenation & Urban Transformation (AMRUT) and Smart Cities Mission of Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs. The National Water Policy (2012) recommends that recycle and reuse of water should become the general norm. In addition, industries are encouraged to reduce their waste water generation by technical advancement, reuse/recycle of waste water and maintain Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) where ever possible. Under NRCP and Namami Gange programme, reuse/recycle of treated water is promoted through its use for industrial, agricultural and horticultural purposes, etc.

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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