(a) whether the Government has taken note of latest assessment made by the Water Aid, an international organisation, to the effect that 80% of India’s surface water is polluted;
(b) if so, the facts in this regard and reaction of the Government thereto; and
(c) whether the Government proposes to take any corrective action in the matter and if so, the details thereof?
MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
(SHRI PRAKASH JAVADEKAR)
(a) to (c) A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.
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STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARAS (A) TO (C) OF THE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.101 FOR 28/07/2015 REGARDING SURFACE WATER POLLUTION BY SHRI JYOTIRADITYA M. SCINDIA AND SHRI YOGI ADITYA NATH:
(a) As per available information, Water Aid has not made any independent assessment of surface water pollution level in India and its report is based on assessment of Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and other organizations. CPCB has a network of 1693 Water Quality Monitoring Stations for surface water spread over the country. Available data from these stations indicate that 58% observations conform to criteria related to BOD, 47% of total coliform and 62% to faecal coliform.
(b)&(c) Surface water pollution is a major concern and Government has recently taken a number of steps including direction issued by Central Pollution Control Board to State Pollution Control Boards on 21st April, 2015 under section 18(1)(b) of Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 requiring local/urban bodies to set up sewerage system for sewage collection, treatment and disposal. The direction further enjoins upon Sewage Treatment Plants to meet the standards laid down for treated effluent sewage to be used for non-potable purposes. To mitigate industrial pollution, directions have been issued for installation of online (24x7) monitoring devices as well as promotion of zero liquid discharge in three sectors in Ganga basin and adoption of water conservation practices.
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