Question : POLLUTION IN RIVERS

(a) whether manifold increase in population and uncontrolled discharge of sewage into the major rivers viz. Ganges, Yamuna, Cauvery, Krishna, etc. are the major causes for pollution in our rivers;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether the Government proposes to constitute a River Cleaning Authority on the lines of Thames River Cleaning Authority, London;

(d) if so, the details thereof;

(e) the details of international assistance sought for cleaning the rivers;

(f) the nature of assistance received so far; and

(g) the steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government to check uncontrolled discharge of sewage into the rivers?

MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR ENVIRONMENT AND FORESTS (SHRI JAIRAM RAMESH)

(a) to (g) The pollution load on rivers has increased over the years due to rapid urbanisation and industrialization. Abstraction of water for irrigation, drinking, industrial use, power etc. compounds the challenge.

According to a recent report of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), against an estimated sewage generation of about 38254 million litres per day (mld) from the Class I cities & Class II towns of the country, the available treatment capacity is for 11787 mld. As sewage is the major source of pollution of rivers, the works undertaken under the Centrally sponsored scheme of National River Conservation Plan (NRCP) include interception and diversion of sewage and its treatment through setting up of Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs). Sewage treatment capacity of 4064 million litres per day (mld) has been created so far under the Plan.

The Central Government has constituted the National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA) in February, 2009 as an empowered authority for conservation of the river Ganga by adopting a holistic approach with river basin as the unit of planning. The Authority has decided that under ‘Mission Clean Ganga’, it will be ensured that by year 2020, no untreated municipal sewage and industrial effluents flow into Ganga.

External assistance from bilateral/ multilateral agencies is availed of by the Government from time to time. The Government has already availed assistance of Yen 17.77 billion from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) for the Yamuna Action Plan (YAP) Phase-I and an assistance of Yen 13.33 billion is being availed for YAP Phase-II. Further, an assistance of 11.184 billion Yen is being provided by JICA for pollution abatement project for Ganga at Varanasi. A Project Preparation Facility assistance of US $ 2.96 million has been availed from the World Bank for preparation of a detailed project report for World Bank assistance for NGRBA.

Conservation of rivers is an ongoing and collective effort of the Central and State Governments. Creation of infrastructure for sewage management and disposal is also being undertaken through other central schemes, such as Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission and Urban Infrastructure Development Scheme for Small and Medium Towns, as well as under state schemes.