(a) the number of rivers, ponds and lakes in India whose water is polluted and not fit for drinking, State/UT-wise;
(b) the measures taken/proposed to be taken by the Government to tackle the issue of water pollution;
(c) whether the Government proposes the development of a new Prevention of Water Pollution Policy; and
(d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI & SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
(SHRI RATTAN LAL KATARIA)
(a) to (d) Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) in association with the State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs)/ Pollution Control Committees (PCCs) monitors the water quality of rivers on a regular basis across the country through a network of monitoring stations. As per latest report of CPCB, 351 polluted river stretches have been identified on 323 rivers based on the value of Bio-chemical Oxygen Demand (BOD). State-wise & priority-wise number of polluted river stretches is provided in Annexure I.
Based on CPCB’s water quality assessment of lakes, ponds & tanks in the year 2018, out of 435 locations monitored, 357 locations were found not complying to the primary water quality criteria for outdoor bathing. State-wise number of locations complying and non- complying to the criteria are provided in Annexure II.
Various measures are being taken both by Central and State Governments to prevent pollution of rivers and water bodies. Central Government assists State Governments and Urban Local bodies through schemes like ‘Namami Gange’, National River Conservation Plan (NRCP), Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) and National Plan for Conservation of Aquatic Eco-Systems.
Other initiatives taken to prevent water pollution include issuance of indicative Guidelines for restoration of water bodies by CPCB as guidelines to the Stakeholders for ensuring restoration/ rejuvenation of water bodies and communicating a copy of the “Guidelines for idol Immersion to all SPCB/PCCs vide letter dated September 6th 2017 in which roles of the all the agencies including Local Bodies/ Authorities and State Pollution Control Board are specified.
Further, Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), SPCBs and PCCs monitor industries with respect to effluent discharge standards and take action for non-compliance under various provisions of Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 and Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974.
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ANNEXURE-I
Annexure referred to in reply to Parts (a) to (d) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 2919 to be answered on the 05th December, 2019 on Pollution in Rivers, Ponds and Lakes.
State/Union Territory wise and Priority wise number of Polluted River Stretches
STATE I II III IV V Grand Total
ANDHRA PRADESH 2 3 5
ASSAM 3 1 4 3 33 44
BIHAR 1 5 6
CHHATTISGARH 4 1 5
DAMAN, DIU AND DADRA NAGAR HAVELI 1 1
DELHI 1 1
GOA 1 2 8 11
GUJARAT 5 1 2 6 6 20
HARYANA 2 2
HIMACHAL PRADESH 1 1 1 4 7
JAMMU & KASHMIR 1 2 2 4 9
JHARKHAND 3 4 7
KARNATAKA 4 7 6 17
KERALA 1 5 15 21
MADHYA PRADESH 3 1 1 3 14 22
MAHARASHTRA 9 6 14 10 14 53
MANIPUR 1 8 9
MEGHALAYA 2 3 2 7
MIZORAM 1 3 5 9
NAGALAND 1 1 2 2 6
ODISHA 1 3 2 13 19
PUDUCHERRY 1 1 2
PUNJAB 2 1 1 4
RAJASTHAN 1 1 2
SIKKIM 4 4
TAMIL NADU 4 1 1 6
TELANGANA 1 2 2 2 1 8
TRIPURA 6 6
UTTAR PRADESH 4 1 2 5 12
UTTARAKHAND 3 1 1 4 9
WEST BENGAL 1 1 3 4 8 17
Grand Total 45 16 43 72 175 351
ANNEXURE-II
Annexure referred to in reply to Parts (a) to (d) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 2919 to be answered on the 05th December, 2019 on Pollution in Rivers, Ponds and Lakes.
State/Union Territory-wise number of locations (Ponds, Lakes &Tanks) complying and non- complying to the Primary Water Quality Criteria
State No of locations monitored
(Ponds, Lakes & Tanks) No of Complying locations
(Ponds, Lakes & Tanks) No of Non-Complying locations
(Ponds, Lakes & Tanks)
ANDHRA PRADESH 2 1 1
ASSAM 30 1 29
BIHAR 5 - 5
CHANDIGARH 1 - 1
CHHATTISGARH 2 1 1
DELHI 4 - 4
GOA 8 1 7
GUJARAT 23 8 15
HARYANA 3 - 3
HIMACHAL PRADESH 5 3 2
JAMMU & KASHMIR 28 3 25
JHARKHAND 4 3 1
KARNATAKA 109 4 105
KERALA 18 7 11
LAKSHADWEEP 1 1 -
MADHYA PRADESH 31 14 17
MANIPUR 18 - 18
MEGHALAYA 7 2 5
NAGALAND 2 - 2
ODISHA 15 - 15
PUDUCHERRY 2 2 -
PUNJAB 3 1 2
RAJASTHAN 16 5 11
TAMIL NADU 8 - 8
TELANGANA 59 3 56
TRIPURA 15 14 1
UTTAR PRADESH 4 - 4
UTTARAKHAND 2 2 -
WEST BENGAL 10 2 8
TOTAL 435 78 357
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