Question : Pollution in Rivers

(a) whether the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has formed a Central Monitoring Committee to prepare and enforce a national plan to make over 350 rivers’ stretches across the country pollution free;

(b) if so, the details thereof along with the composition of the Central Monitoring Committee;

(c) whether the tribunal has also directed the Ministry to consider a policy for giving environmental awards to outstanding persons (natural and juristic) and institutions or states and introducing “dis-incentives” for non-compliant states;

(d) if so, the details thereof and the steps taken by the Union Government in this regard;

(e) whether the Central Monitoring Committee has prepared any action planfor the safety of water and environment and if so, the details thereof; and

(f) the other steps taken by the Union Government to control the pollution in the country?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
(SHRI BABUL SUPRIYO)

(a)to (f)Yes Sir. Hon’ble National Green Tribunal (NGT) videits order dated 08.04.2019 in O.A. No. 673 of 2018 has constituted a “Central Monitoring Committee” (CMC) to undertake a national initiative by way of preparation and enforcement of a national plan to make river stretches pollution free. CMC is comprising a senior representative of NITI Aayog, Secretaries Ministry of Water Resources, Ministry of Urban Development, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Director General, National Mission for Clean Ganga and Chairman, CPCB as members. Chairman CPCB is the nodal authority for coordination. Hon’ble Tribunal has also directed the Ministry to consider a policy for giving environmental awards to outstanding persons (natural and juristic) and Institutions/States and introducing dis-incentives for non-compliant states.


The CMC has deliberated upon the action needs to be taken, to ensure the compliance of the directions of the Hon’ble Tribunal, in its 1st meeting held on 11.06.2019. The CMC has also decided to circulate the ‘national plan for making rivers pollution free’drafted by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) to all members of CMC to obtain suggestions/views on respective subject matters related to concerned/ NITI Aayog/ NMCG.

The Government has taken various initiatives to check water pollution including pollution in river, which inter-aliainclude, formulation and notification of standards for effluents from industries, operations or processes; enforcing of these standards by State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs)/Pollution Control Committees (PCCs) through consent mechanism and regular monitoring; setting up of monitoring network for assessment of water quality; installation of Online Continuous Effluent Monitoring systems (OCEMS) to check the discharge of effluent directly into water bodies; promotion of cleaner production processes; installation of Common Effluent Treatment Plants for cluster of Small Scale Industrial units; issuance of directions under Section 5 of Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 and under Section 18(1)(b) of Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, etc1986 regarding ‘Treatment and Utilization of Sewage for Restoration of Water Quality of River’ to Municipal Corporations of 46 Metropolitan cities and 20 State Capitals..
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