Question : Sewage Treatment Plants

(a) whether the Government has released funds to State Governments including Tamil Nadu for strengthening and setting up of Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs), Common Effluent Treatment Plants (CETPs) and Treatment Storage Disposal Facilities (TSDFs) during the last three years;

(b) if so, the details of assistance provided to State Governments including Tamil Nadu during the last three years, year-wise;

(c) whether the Union Government has chalked out any comprehensive strategy to provide technological and financial support to develop CETPs for the large number of leather tanneries and dyeing units across the country particularly in Tamil Nadu; and

(d) if so, the details thereof and the total funds allocated for the purpose?

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

(a)& (b) This Ministry supplements the efforts of the State Governments in management and control of pollution, and provides financial assistance for taking up works for abatement of pollution of rivers, including setting up of Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) and related sewerage infrastructure, under the scheme of National River Conservation Plan (NRCP), construction of Common Effluent Treatment Plants (CETPs) for control of industrial pollution from cluster of small scale industries and development of Treatment, Storage and Disposal Facilities (TSDFs) for management of hazardous waste.

State-wise details of funds released by the Ministry for CETPs, TSDFs and river pollution abatement works, including STPs, during last three years are annexed. During this period, no funds have been released to Tamil Nadu for the said activities.

State Governments, apart from their own budgetary allocations, are also accessing financial assistance for creation of sewerage infrastructure, including sewage treatment plants (STPs), in various cities/towns under Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) and Smart Cities Mission of Ministry of Urban Development as well as Namami Gange programme of Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation.

(c) & (d) After evaluation of the plan scheme in the year 2016-17, Ministry has decided to discontinue the existing scheme for providing financial assistance to CETPs. However, financial support is being provided for completion of the ongoing CETP projects.
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