(a) whether Chloride Content in the Yamuna River Water has been found to be high;
(b) if so, the reasons therefor and the extent of contamination; and
(c) the concrete steps taken by the Government to ensure that the untreated waste from factories is not released into the river?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT AND FORESTS
(SHRI NAMO NARAIN MEENA)
(a) to (c) As reported by Central Pollution Control Board, the chloride content in
the water of river Yamuna has been observed to be generally within the permissible limits
of 250 milligram per litre for drinking water quality. However, at some locations,
chloride values have been found higher than the prescribed limits. The chloride is
generally contributed to water bodies due to disposal of domestic and industrial effluents
and surface run off from river catchment area. Under the Yamuna Action Plan (YAP) Phase-I
launched by this Ministry in 1993 in the three states of UP, Haryana and Delhi, various
pollution abatement schemes for tackling domestic sewage have been implemented. The mandate
of this Action Plan is to achieve water quality for bathing class. A total of 257 schemes
have been completed under this Plan, including setting up of 34 sewage treatment plants
for creating additional treatment capacity of 750 million litres per day (mld), of which 402
mld is in UP, 318 mld in Haryana and 30 mld in Delhi. The industrial pollution on the other
hand is tackled through the implementation of legal provisions under the Environment
(Protection) Act, 1986. Further, as per report of CPCB, no specific industry causing
increase in chloride content, has been identified on river Yamuna.