GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT AND FORESTS

LOK SABHA

ANSWERED ON:29.04.2013

POLLUTION NORMS FOR INDUSTRIES

BAIDYANATH PRASAD MAHTO

(a) whether the Government has set standard pollution norms or issued any guidelines to industries and manufacturing sector in the country to prevent river pollution due to discharging of industrial effluents;

(b) if so, the details thereof along with the names of the rivers being polluted by such industries, river, industry and State-wise;

(c) whether the Government has also issued any guidelines to prevent discharging of domestic effluents into the rivers;

(d) if so, the details thereof along with the punitive action taken against the erring industries;

(e) whether the polluted water is being purified before it pours into the river; and

(f) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT AND FORESTSbe pleased to state:- 

 MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR ENVIRONMENT AND FORESTS

(SHRIMATI JAYANTHI NATARAJAN) 

 (a) & (b) The standards for disposal of treated industrial effluents have been notified by the Government. Industries are required to comply with the standards prior to disposal of effluents into surface water, including the rivers. An industry discharging Bio-chemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) more than 100 kilogramme per day is termed as Grossly Polluting industry (GPI) by the Central and State Pollution Control Boards. These boards have identified 839 GPIs, out of which 783 are discharging into various rivers including Ganga, Yamuna, Hindon, etc; as reported by the Central Pollution Control Board.

(c) & (d) As per the provision of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, municipal authorities are required to collect and treat domestic effluents and comply with the standards before their disposal into rivers. Concerned State Pollution Control Boards/ Pollution Control Committees are taking actions against the erring industries under the Water Act, 1974.

(e) & (f) Industries are required to set up effluent treatment plants and comply with the prescribed standards. Out of 839 industries mentioned above, 687 industries have provided effluent treatment plants. As reported, 563 units, out of 687 industries are able to comply with the standards.