Question : Sewage Treatment Plants

(a) the quantum of waste water and sewage generated along with the number and capacity of waste water and sewage treatment plants in the country, State-wise;

(b) whether the stated capacity is adequate to handle and treat the existing amount of waste water and sewage generated every day and the expected increase in volume;

(c) if not, the measures being taken by the Government to meet the shortfall in sewage treatment capacity;

(d) whether the Government has earmarked any funds for sewage treatment plants in the country including Karnataka and if so, the details thereof during each of the last three years; State-wise; and

(e) whether the Government is taking any stringent measures to ensure that the sewage treatment plants conform to environmental norms for discharging into streams and if so, the details thereof?

MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI PRAKASH JAVADEKAR)


(a) & (b) As per the report published by Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) in March, 2015, the sewage generation from urban areas in the country is estimated at around 62,000 million litres per day (mld), whereas the total sewage treatment capacity available is only 23,277 mld, or 37% of the sewage generation. The State-wise details of sewage generation from urban areas and corresponding treatment capacity available is at Annexure-I.

(c) to (e) Proper treatment & disposal of sewage generated in towns is the responsibility of the concerned State Governments/local bodies so that the untreated sewage is not discharged into rivers thereby polluting them. This Ministry has been supplementing the efforts of the State Governments in abatement of pollution in identified stretches of various rivers under the National River Conservation Plan (NRCP) & NGRBA (National Ganga River Basin Authority) programme, for implementation of projects on a cost sharing basis between the Central and State Governments. 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. The NGRBA programme along with work of Ganga & its tributaries is with Ministry of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation (MoWR,RD&GR) from 01/08/2014 onwards. The programmes of NRCP & NGRBA (till 01/08/2014) have covered polluted stretches of 43 rivers in 200 towns spread over 21 States, including Karnataka, at a sanctioned cost of ` 12202.59 crore so far. Sewage treatment capacity of 5169 mld has been created so far under these two programmes. The details of funds released to various State Governments for implementation of sanctioned works under NRCP/NGRBA programmes during the last three years, State-wise are at Annexure-II.
Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has issued directions under Section 18 1(b) of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 in April, 2015 to the State Pollution Control Board/Pollution Control Committees regarding setting up of sewage treatment plants and utilization of sewage generated in their respective States. CPCB has also issued directions in October, 2015 to 178 towns under Section 5 of Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 for proper treatment and disposal of sewage generated in their jurisdiction.

State Governments, apart from their own budgetary allocation, are also accessing financial assistance for creation of sewerage infrastructure, including sewage treatment plants, in various cities/towns under Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) programme of Ministry of Urban Development and the Namami Gange programme of MoWR,RD&GR.


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