Question : CLEANING OF YAMUNA RIVER

(a) whether Pollution Control Research Institute (PCRI) or Central Pollution Control Board has conducted any study regarding increase of pollution in Yamuna river;

(b) if so, the details thereof and the reaction of the Government thereto;

(c) whether the Government has sanctioned any funds to various State Governments/ autonomous agencies to decrease the pollution of Yamuna;

(d) if so, the details thereof along with the time by which the river Yamuna is likely to be made pollution free;

(e) whether the Government has issued any directions/guidelines to State Governments to prevent discharge of waste water/industrial effluents to Yamuna river; and

(f) if so, the details thereof?

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

(a)& (b) As per information received from the Pollution Control Research Institute, Haridwar, they have not carried out any study on the rising pollution levels in Yamuna. In compliance to directions of the Hon’ble Supreme Court, Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has submitted on 12.09.2012 their water quality monitoring report on river Yamuna based on water samples of the river collected during August, 2012 from 14 locations in the stretch from Hathnikund to Agra in the states of Haryana, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh. As per the report of CPCB, the cumulative assessment of the key parameters of water quality viz. pH, Dissolved Oxygen (DO), Bio-chemical Oxygen Demand (BOD), Ammonia and Total Coliforms indicates that river Yamuna is not conforming to the desired levels from Hathnikund to Agra due to higher concentration of one or the other criteria pollutants. However, in terms of BOD, an important water quality parameter, the water quality in the stretch of river Yamuna from Hathnikund to Palla meets the prescribed standards.

The water quality of Yamuna has not shown the desired improvement owing to a large gap between the demand and availability of sewage treatment capacity and lack of fresh water in the river.

(c) & (d) For addressing the problem of pollution in river Yamuna, financial assistance is provided to UP, Delhi and Haryana under Yamuna Action Plan (YAP) in a phased manner since 1993. Under Phase-I and II of YAP, an expenditure of Rs. 1438.34 crore (including State share) has been incurred. Further, the YAP Phase - III project for Delhi has been approved in December, 2011 at an estimated cost of Rs 1656 crore with loan assistance from Japan International Cooperation Agency.

(e) & (f) Under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, the Standards for discharge of effluents have been notified. The Central Pollution Control Board and concerned State Pollution Control Boards are monitoring implementation of these standards.