New Delhi, Dec 08: The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), in association with Pollution Control Boards and Committees in different States and Union Territories (UTs), have been monitoring the water quality of rivers and other water bodies through a network of monitoring stations under the National Water Quality Monitoring Programme.
Based on water quality monitoring results, pollution assessment of rivers has been carried out by CPCB from time to time. As per the last report published by CPCB in September 2018, 351 polluted stretches were identified on 323 rivers based on monitoring results in terms of Bio-chemical Oxygen Demand (BOD), an indicator of organic pollution.
As per the seventh schedule of Constitution of India (Article 246), ‘Water’ is a State subject, and it is the responsibility of the States and UTs to ensure the cleanliness and development of rivers within their jurisdiction.
Cleaning of rivers is a continuous process and Government of India is supplementing the efforts of the State and UT Governments in addressing the challenges of pollution of rivers by providing financial and technical assistance.
The assistance is provided to State and UT Governments for abatement of pollution in identified stretches of various rivers under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme of National River Conservation Plan (NRCP) on cost sharing basis between the Central and State and UT Governments.
This for taking up various pollution abatement works relating to interception and diversion of raw sewage, construction of sewerage system, setting up sewage treatment plant (STP), low cost sanitation, river front and bathing ghat development, etc.
The NRCP has so far covered 78 polluted stretches on 36 rivers in 80 towns spread over 16 States in the country with the project sanctioned cost of Rs. 6248.16 crore, and inter alia, a sewage treatment capacity of 2745.7 million liters per day (mld) has been created, resulting in reduction in pollution load being discharged in to the various rivers.
An amount of Rs. 2,900.01 crore has been released to various States and UTs Governments as Central share for implementation of various pollution abatement schemes under NRCP that includes pollution abatement works for river Narmada implemented in Hosangabad and Jabalpur at a total sanctioned cost of Rs. 14.33 crore and utilized amount of Rs. 4.85 crore.
In last three years, no proposal for pollution abatement of river Narmada under NRCP has been received from concerned States. Under the Central Sector Scheme of Namami Gange program, launched in May, 2015, diverse set of coordinated activities meant for cleaning of river Ganga have been taken up.
These include treatment of municipal sewage, treatment of industrial effluent, drain bio-remediation, river surface cleaning, rural sanitation, river front development, ghats and crematoria development, afforestation and biodiversity conservation, public outreach programme, etc.
Under this programme, 406 projects, including 176 projects for sewage treatment of 5270 MLD and a sewer network of 5214 km, have been sanctioned at a cost of Rs.32898 crore against which sewerage treatment capacity of 1858 MLD has been created so far.
State-wise details of ongoing projects launched by the Government under NRCP and Namami Gange programme during the last three years, In addition to this, sewerage infrastructure is created under programs like Atal Mission for Rejuvenation & Urban Transformation (AMRUT) and Smart Cities Mission of Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs.
Under NRCP and Namami Gange programme; financial assistance is provided to the participating States for undertaking various conservation and rejuvenation activities including education and awareness among the local people, students and stakeholders about the value, functions and ecological services of rivers through awareness campaign/publication, pamphlets, video films, Yatra, slogan,drawing,essay competitions etc.
Proposals for pollution abatement works in towns,cities along polluted river stretches are received from the States,UTs from time to time for consideration under NRCP and sanctioned based on their prioritization, conformity with NRCP guidelines, availability of plan funds, etc.
Narmada has been included among six rivers for conducting bio-diversity study through Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, which was sanctioned in September, 2020. The polluted river stretches, as identified by CPCB are considered for mitigation of pollution under NRCP and not the river as a whole.
The polluted river in Meghalaya are, river Umkhrah, river Umsherpi, river Kyrhuhkhla, river Nonbah, river Umtrew, rive Lukha, and river Myntdu, this Information was given by the Minister of State for Jal Shakti, Shri Bishweswar Tudu in a written reply in Lok Sabha today.
