Question : Cleaning of Rivers

(a) whether the water level and quality of water in the rivers of the country are on the decline;

(b) if so, the details thereof and the corrective steps taken thereon;

(c) whether the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has given any directive in this regard, if so, the details thereof and the reaction of the Government thereto;

(d) the steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government to ensure uninterrupted flow and cleaning of small and major rivers in the country along with the achievements made so far in this regard; and

(e) the amount spent on cleaning of such rivers during each of the last three years and the current year, river and State-wise?

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

(a) to (d) Discharge of untreated and partially treated sewage from cities / towns and industrial effluents constitute a major source of pollution in rivers. As per the report published by Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) in February 2015, 302 polluted river stretches have been identified on 275 rivers based on Bio-chemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) levels, a key indicator of organic pollution. The State-wise details are at Annexure-I.

It is the responsibility of the State Governments/ concerned local bodies to set up proper facilities for collection, transportation and treatment of sewage being generated and ensure that untreated sewage does not fall into the 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 National River Conservation Plan (NRCP) and NGRBA (National Ganga River Basin Authority) programmes. 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 42 rivers in 199 towns spread over 21 States at a sanctioned cost of ` 11212.33 crore so far. Sewage treatment capacity of 5084 million litres per day (mld) has been created so far under these two programmes.

Hon’ble National Green Tribunal (NGT) have issued directions from time to time regarding abatement of pollution and conservation of rivers in the country, especially Ganga & Yamuna. The Government has in 2014 initiated an Integrated Ganga Conservation Mission - ‘Namami Gange’ under the NGRBA programme for consolidating the ongoing efforts & planning for an integrated and comprehensive action plan for rejuvenation of Ganga and its tributaries. The 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 Swatch Bharat Abhiyan (Gramin) programme of Ministry of Drinking Water & Sanitation.

Also, while according environmental clearances to various hydro-electric projects, the condition for maintaining certain minimum flow in the river is now invariably being stipulated by the Ministry.

Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has issued directions under Section 18 1(b) of Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 in April, 2015 to all State Pollution Control Boards/Pollution Control Committees regarding treatment and utilization of sewage generated in their respective States. CPCB has also issued directions to 178 towns under Section 5 of Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 for proper treatment and disposal of sewage.

To control discharge of industrial effluents, CPCB and respective State Pollution Control Boards/Pollution Control Committees monitor industries with respect to effluents discharge standards and take action for non-compliance under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. To improve the monitoring of compliance, directions have been issued to specific industries to install online 24x7 effluent and emission monitoring devices. Steps have also been taken by CPCB to promote low waste and no waste concept leading to Zero Liquid Discharge by grossly water polluting industries, particularly those located on the river banks.

(e) The details of funds released to various State Governments for implementation of sanctioned works under NRCP/NGRBA programmes during the last three years and current year, State-wise are at Annexure-II.

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