Government to clean polluted rivers

New Delhi, Dec 7 : The Government has decided to clean all big and polluted rivers in the country, Environment and Forests (independent charge) Minister Jairam Ramesh said in Rajya Sabha on Monday.

The efforts towards conservation of rivers started with the launching of the Ganga Action Plan (GAP) Phase-I in the year 1985. Subsequently, GAP Phase-II (GAP-II) was initiated which included the tributaries of the river Ganga, namely, Yamuna, Gomti and Damodar.

The Plan was expanded to cover other rivers under National River Conservation Plan (NRCP) in the year 1995. This Plan presently covers 38 rivers in 167 towns spread over 20 states. Pollution abatement schemes under NRCP include interception, diversion and treatment of sewage; low cost sanitation works on river banks; electric and/or improved wood crematoria etc. Sewage treatment capacity of nearly 4000 million litres per day (mld) has been created so far.

Based on independent monitoring undertaken by reputed institutions on some of the major rivers under NRCP, the water quality in terms of BOD (Bio-chemical Oxygen Demand) values has improved at most locations as compared to water quality before taking up of pollution abatement schemes.

The schemes are implemented on a cost sharing basis between the Centre and State Governments through implementing agencies of the States, the Minister said.

The pollution load on rivers has increased over the years due to rapid urbanisation and industrialization. Abstraction of water for irrigation, drinking, industrial use, power etc. compounds the challenge. Treatment of water from various sources for drinking purposes is done by Water Supply Agencies in the States.

Based on water quality monitoring, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has identified 150 polluted river stretches in the country. exceeding the designated bathing quality standards of BOD of 3 mg/litre, said Ramesh.

Conservation of rivers is an ongoing and collective effort of the Central and State Governments. The Central Government supplements the efforts of the State Governments in river conservation through the central plans.

River conservation activities such as creation of civic infrastructure for sewage management and disposal are also being implemented under other central schemes, such as Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission, Urban Infrastructure Development Scheme for Small and Medium Towns, as well as under state schemes.

Ramesh said the Government has initiated an exercise for revamping the river conservation strategy to promote a holistic and integrated river basin approach.

The Central Government has set up the 'National Ganga River Basin Authority' (NGRBA) on February 20 this year as an empowered planning, financing, monitoring and coordinating authority to ensure effective abatement of pollution and conservation of the river Ganga by adopting a holistic approach with the river basin as the unit of planning.