(a) whether samples are drawn to assess and test the quality of river water;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) the names of the rivers whose water has become polluted beyond dangerous level during
the last three years; and
(d) the action taken by the Government against the companies discharging their waste into
the rivers?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF WATER RESOURCES AND MINORITY AFFAIRS
(SHRI VINCENT H. PALA)
The subject matter of the Question is related to Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB),
Ministry of Environment & Forests. The reply based on the material furnished by CPCB,
Ministry of Environment & Forests is as under:
(a) & (b) CPCB conducts test with respect to water quality of lakes and rivers under
national Water Quality Monitoring Programme (NWMP). The list of parameters considered for
water quality assessment are enclosed at Annexure-I.
(c) The WQMP network covers 353 rivers, and based on monitoring results 150 polluted
river stretches have been identified on 121 rivers during the period 2002-2008 (list
enclosed at Annexure-II). The assessment is based on organic pollution load which is
measured in terms of Bio-chemical Oxygen Demand (BOD).
(d) Grossly Polluting Industries (GPIs) are the industries [(i) handling hazardous
substances, or(ii) effluent having BOD load of 100 mg/l or more or (iii) a combination
of(i) and(ii)] and discharging effluent into a water course. The State-wise numbers of
GPIs which discharge their effluent into the rivers directly or indirectly are given at
Annexure-III. along with the number of GPIs closed down.