Question : Pollution by Synthetic Fertilizers

(a) whether the Government has taken note that indiscriminate application of synthetic fertilizers has been polluting water bodies and destroying ozone layers and if so, the details thereof;
(b) whether agricultural pollutants have the potential for damage on a much larger scale;
(c) if so, whether the Government has taken steps identify the said problems;
(d) if so, the details thereof; and
(e) whether the Government is taking any measures to combat the likely damage by the said pollutants and if so, the details thereof?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
(DR. MAHESH SHARMA)

(a) to (d) Water bodies in the country are polluted due to discharge of untreated sewage, industrial effluent, agricultural runoff containing fertilizers, pesticides, etc. No study has been carried out by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) to assess pollution of water bodies from application of synthetic fertilizers. However, the CPCB is monitoring the water quality of both surface and ground water under theNational Water Monitoring Programme (NWMP) through a network of monitoring stations in the country. The water quality is assessed for various parameters, including physico-chemical, bacteriological, heavy metals, pesticides, etc.

(e) The steps taken by the Government to check the pollution of water bodies, inter alia, include formulation and notification of standards for effluents from industries, operations or processes; enforcing of these standards by State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs)/ Pollution Control Committees (PCCs) through consent mechanism and regular monitoring; setting up of monitoring network for assessment of water quality; installation of Online Continuous Effluent Monitoring systems (OCEMS) to check the discharge of effluent directly into water bodies; promotion of cleaner production processes; installation of Common Effluent Treatment Plants for cluster of Small Scale Industrial units; issuance of directions for implementation of Zero Liquid Dischargein certain categories of highly polluting industries; issuance of directions under Section 5 of Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 and under Section 18(1)(b) of Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974,etc.

*****