Question : `POLLUTION IN YAMUNA RIVER`

(a) the number of projects/schemes executed by the Government during the last three years to check pollution in Yamuna river and the total expenditure incurred thereon so far;

(b) whether schemes/projects implemented to check pollution in Yamuna River have met their objectives;

(c) if so, the details thereof;

(d) if not, the reasons for failure of schemes and the action taken by the Government against the persons responsible for this failure;

(e) whether the Government has been facing hurdles in implementing the schemes due to blocking of flow of River in various States including Rajasthan; and

(f) if so, the details thereof alongwith the action taken in this regard?

MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR ENVIRONMENT AND FORESTS (SHRIMATI JAYANTHI NATARAJAN)

(a) To supplement the efforts of State Governments in addressing the problem of pollution of river Yamuna, Government of India is implementing Yamuna Action Plan (YAP) with assistance from Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in a phased manner. YAP-I was commenced in April, 1993 and completed in Feb, 2003 at a total cost of Rs. 682 crore covering various pollution abatement works including creation of Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) of total 753.25 million litres per day (mld) capacity. YAP-II was approved in 2003 at an estimated cost of Rs. 624 crores with major items of works such as rehabilitation of sewerage network and STPs and construction of new STPs. An expenditure of Rs. 711.05 crore, which also includes State’s share, has been incurred under this plan till date.

(b) to (d) The river Yamuna has not shown the desired improvement due to gap between generation and treatment of sewage as also the lack of availability of fresh water in the river during the lean period. In addition there is contribution to pollution also from the non point sources such as from bathing ghats, open defecation and runoff from the catchment areas.

(e) & (f) The YAP and National River Conservation Plan projects are implemented in co-ordination with concerned State Governments.