Question : RIVER DEVELOPMENT

(a) whether the Union Government has received any proposal from the Government of Maharashtra for providing additional Central assistance for the development of Mithi river and if so, the details and present status thereof;

(b) the action plan of the Government to check the pollution in Saryu river, a tributory to the river Ganga that flows in Eastern Uttar Pradesh;

(c) whether the Government has initiated steps to rejuvenate holy river Pamba and if so, the details thereof;

(d) whether the Government has received any request to clean and to remove the impediments in the water- flow of holy Mandakini river at famous pilgrimage of Chitrakoot Dham in the country; and

(e) if so, the details thereof along with action taken thereon, till date?

THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANGA REJUVENATION (PROF.SANWAR LAL JAT)

(a)to(e) It is the responsibility of the State Gove- rnments/concerned local bodies to set up proper faci- lities for collection and treatment of sewage being generated and ensure that untreated sewage does not fall into the rivers, thereby polluting them. Mini- stry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MOEF&CC) is supplementing the efforts of the State Governments in pollution abatement in identified stretches of various rivers through the centrally sponsored National River Conservation Plan (NRCP) for implementation of projects on cost sharing basis between the Central and State Governments.

As per periodic assessment of the quality of water/ pollution level in the rivers conducted by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the following stret- ches have been identified as polluted:

i. Mumbai stretch in Mithi River.

ii. Stretch along Ayodhya in Saryu River

iii. Stretch downstream of Chitrakoot in Mandakini River.

The pollution abatement schemes under NRCP are sanctioned from time to time on the basis of proposals received from the States Governments. Under NRCP, MOEF&CC has sanctioned a project for pollution abatement of river Pamba in Kerala at a cost of Rs.18.45 crore. The work sanctioned under the project pertains to interception & diversion of sewage, sewage treatment plants, low-cost sanitation, bathing ghats, solid waste management and public awareness & participation. The works of low-cost sanitation, bathing ghats, solid waste management and public awareness pro- gramme have been completed.

Although, no proposal for abatement of pollution has been received, MOEF&CC has sanctioned a pro- ject under NRCP for pollution abatement of river Mandakini at Chitrakoot in District Santa, Madhya Pradesh at a cost of Rs.6.20 crore. The work un- dertaken under the project pertains to interce- ption & diversion of sewage, sewage treatment plant (4.7 million litres per day), low-cast sanitation, river front development, crematoria and public awareness & participation.

No proposal for abatement of pollution in river Mithi in Mumbai, Maharashtra; and river Saryu in Uttar Pradesh has been sanctioned under NRCP.