(a) whether pollution is increasing in several major rivers in Poorvanchal and Bihar;
(b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;
(c) the details of work undertaken by the Government to check pollution in these rivers and the funds spent thereon during the last three years; and
(d) the progress made as a result of these works in checking/abatement of pollution?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT AND FORESTS
(SHRI NAMO NARAIN MEENA)
(a) and (b) Water quality of major rivers namely, Ganga and Gomti in the eastern part of Uttar Pradesh and Ganga in the State of Bihar is monitored at 15 locations by the Central Pollution Control Board. The Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD), a key indicator of water quality is complying with the designated water quality criteria at most of the locations in Ganga except at Allahabad, Varanasi and Ghazipur. As regards the river Gomti, the BOD is not complying with designated criteria at Jaunpur and Varanasi. Rapid urbanization and inadequate collection and treatment of sewage, leading to discharge of large part of untreated sewage have been among the main reasons causing pollution in these rivers.
(c) and (d) Pollution abatement works have been undertaken in the towns located in the eastern part of Uttar Pradesh namely, Allahabad, Varanasi, Mirzapur, Mugalsarai, Ghazipur and Chunar located on the banks of the river Ganga, and Jaunpur and Sultanpur located on the banks of the river Gomti. In Bihar, pollution abatement works have been undertaken in the towns namely, Arrah, Barahiya, Barh, Bhagalpur, Buxar, Chapra, Fatwah, Munger, Patna, Sultanganj, Hajipur, Kahelgaon and Mokamah along the banks of the river Ganga. The works include Interception and Diversion of Sewage, Sewage Treatment Plants, Low Cost Sanitation, Improved Wood Based/Electric Crematoria, River Front Development etc. So far, 142 projects have been completed along with creation of sewage treatment capacity of 297.8 million liters per day in these towns of eastern part of Uttar Pradesh and the State of Bihar, and total expenditure of Rs. 22.10 crore has been incurred during the last three years. As per the water quality monitoring done by the reputed institutions in the country, in spite of the phenomenal increase in urban centres along the banks of the river, the water quality of river Ganga has shown discernible improvement at most of the locations over the water quality prior to implementation of Ganga Action Plan.