(a) whether the Kali river in Uttar Pradesh is polluted by slaughter house waste, sewage,
toxic metals like lead and chromium, and other industrial wastes;
(b) if so, the details thereof along with the details of health hazards; and
(c) the steps taken by the Government to clean this river?
MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR ENVIRONMENT AND FORESTS (SHRIMATI JAYANTHI NATARAJAN)
(a) to (c) As reported by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the Kali river in Uttar
Pradesh is polluted due to discharge of sewage and industrial effluents from Muzaffarnagar,
Modinagar, Bulandsahar, Hapur and Kannauj including wastewater from slaughter houses of Meerut.
Taking note of deterioration of water quality of Kali river and related health hazards, the CPCB
has issued directions under section 18(1) (b) of the Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution)
Act, 1974 to Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board on 14.12.2011 for (i) identification of
defaulting industries discharging untreated/partially treated effluent in the river Kali or
drains meeting the river and issue closure directions to the defaulter units, (ii) ensuring
proper treatment of effluent from slaughter houses in Meerut for conforming to the notified
standards, (iii) ensuring pollution control and mitigative measures for all identified point
sources (drains) reaching the river, (iv) interception and treatment of sewage from Meerut,
Hapur and other cities reaching the river and (v) devising comprehensive action plan for
abatement of pollution in Kali river.
Further, under the National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA), a project for abatement of
pollution of river Kali (tributary of river Ganga) has been sanctioned in February, 2011 for
Kannuaj town in Uttar Pradesh at a total cost of Rs. 43.66 crore. The project includes laying
of sewerage system, construction of pumping stations and sewage treatment plant to tackle
domestic wastewater from Kannauj town.