Question : Untreated Sewage

(a) whether many industrial units are discharging untreated effluent/sewage into major rivers including Yamuna and also injecting the same into the ground and if so, the details thereof and the reaction of the Government thereto;

(b) whether the Government proposes to set up more sewage treatment plants as well as sewage system in the country to check untreated sewage being discharged into rivers and if so, the details thereof, State-wise;

(c) the projected quantum of untreated sewage likely to be treated as a result thereof
including the sewage likely to be generated under the sanitation mission along with the funds allocated/sanctioned for the purpose, State-wise; and

(d) whether the Government proposes to enact any legislation to put a check on such industrial units and if so, the details thereof?

MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI ANIL MADHAV DAVE)

(a) Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has reported that it has identified 920 grossly polluting Industries discharging effluents into rivers across the country. Ministry has not conducted any survey to ascertain the numbers of industrial units which are dumping their chemical waste under the ground leading to contamination of groundwater. However, under the World Bank aided Project namely Capacity Building for Industrial Pollution Management Project (CBIPMP), based on the preliminary investigation, 64 sites have been identified as sites with soil and/or groundwater contamination.

(b) & (c) Collection and Treatment of sewage generated in towns is the responsibility of the concerned State Governments/local bodies so that the untreated sewage is not discharged into rivers. Government of India has been supplementing the efforts of the State Governments in abatement of pollution in identified stretches of various rivers under the National River Conservation Plan (NRCP) & National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA), for implementation of projects on a cost sharing basis between the Central and State Governments. Under NRCP & NGRBA, sewerage and sewage treatment plants are set up in polluted stretches of Rivers based on the proposals received from State Governments. Under these programmes so far sewage treatment capacity of 5169 million litres per day (mld) has been created at a sanctioned cost of Rs. 12202.59 crore.

As per a report published by Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) in March, 2015, the sewage generation from urban areas in the country is estimated at 61,948 mld, against which a sewage treatment capacity of 23,277 mld, or 37% of the sewage generation is available. The State-wise details of sewage generation from urban areas, corresponding treatment capacity available and treatment capacity under construction are at Annexure.

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

(d) Discharge of industrial effluents is regulated through the existing provisions under the, Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. The industry specific standards are reviewed by the Ministry from time to time to bring them in line with the advancement in process/control technologies. The standards for sugar industries, Thermal Power Plants, Gensets & Common Effluent Treatment Plants (CETPs) have been recently revised by the Ministry so as to have stricter norms for pollution control.


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