GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF WATER RESOURCES,

RIVER DEVELOPMENT & GANGA REJUVENATION

LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 404

ANSWERED ON 25.02.2016

POLLUTION IN RIVERS

404. SHRI ANANTKUMAR HEGDE

SHRI YOGI ADITYA NATH

SHRI RAVINDRA KUMAR PANDEY

SHRI LAXMI NARAYAN YADAV

SHRI SUNIL KUMAR SINGH

SHRI A. ARUNMOZHITHEVAN

SHRI MD. BADARUDDOZA KAHN

SHRI JITENDRA CHAUDHURY

SHRI RAJESH KUMAR DIWAKER

SHRI SULTAN AHMED SHRIMATI SAKUNTALA LAGURI

SHRI SANGANNA AMARAPPA

SHRI HARISH CHANDRA ALIAS HARISH DWIVEDI

SHRI SUSHIL KUMAR SINGH

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

(a) the names of rivers and their stretches identified as polluted in the country along with the reasons for the same, State/UT-wise;

(b) whether the Government is aware of the presence of toxic substances, heavy metals, antibiotics and other harmful chemical pollutants in several rivers including Ganga and Yamuna;

(c) if so, the details and extent thereof along with impact of such pollutants on the drinking water supply in the areas wherein supply is made through these rivers particularly Yamuna;

(d) whether th

ANSWER

THE HON’BLE MINISTER FOR WATER RESOURCES,

RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANGA REJUVENATION

(SUSHRI UMA BHARTI)

(a) As per the report published by Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) in February 2015, CPCB has identified 302 polluted river stretches on 275 rivers of the country based on Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) levels in river waters, a key indicator of organic pollution. 

(b) Yes, Madam. The Government is aware of the pollution in river water in the country. Pollution abatement in river Ganga and its tributaries is being undertaken by this Ministry under Namami Gange programme, while Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MoEF& CC) is supplementing the efforts of the State Governments in abatement of pollution in identified stretches of various rivers under the National River Conservation Plan (NRCP).

(c) The Ministry of Drinking Water & Sanitation and Public Health Departments of the States as well as the respective urban local bodies ensure that clean drinking water is provided to the citizens in their jurisdiction.

(d) & (e) Pollution abatement of rivers is a continuous and ongoing process. It is the responsibility of the State Governments/ concerned local bodies to set up proper facilities for collection, transportation and treatment of sewage being generated and ensure that untreated waste water does not fall into the rivers thereby polluting them. This Ministry and Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MoEF&CC) have been supplementing the efforts of the State Governments in abatement of pollution in identified stretches of river Ganga and other rivers under the NGRBA (National Ganga River Basin Authority) and National River Conservation Plan (NRCP) programmes respectively.

Various pollution abatement schemes taken-up under the programmes, inter-alia, include interception & diversion of raw sewage, construction of sewerage systems, setting up of sewage treatment plants, low cost sanitation facilities, electric/improved wood crematoria and river front development.

Under NGRBA, 96 schemes including 83 investment projects in 53 towns in Ganga States have been sanctioned at a total cost of Rs. 8383.13 crore. Of these, 27 projects have been completed so far. Rs. 1501.32 crore has been released by the Centre including the matching share of the States so far and a total expenditure of Rs. 1664.73 has been incurred till December 2015 for implementation of these projects.

MOEF&CC, through NRCP has covered polluted stretches of 31 rivers (non- Ganga Basin rivers) in 75 towns spread over 14 States at a sanctioned cost of Rs.4517.82 crore. Till January, 2016, an amount of Rs.1941.86 crore has been released to various State Governments for implementation of various pollution abatement schemes and a treatment capacity of 2373 million litres per day (mld) has been created so far under NRCP (excluding Ganga and its tributaries).