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833 Polluting Industries Along Ganga Shut in 5 Years, Reveals Data

State pollution agencies directed the closure of 833 grossly polluting industries along the Ganga and its tributaries between 2019 and 2024. In 2024 alone, 98 such industries were shut, with a majority located in Uttarakhand. Nationally, out of over 544,000 operational industries, nearly 24,000 were found non-compliant with environmental standards, triggering various regulatory actions. The government monitors water quality at thousands of locations, classifying polluted river stretches based on Biochemical Oxygen Demand levels.

Key Points: 833 Ganga Industries Closed for Pollution from 2019-24

  • 833 closures in 5 years
  • 98 shut in 2024 alone
  • Uttarakhand top state for 2024 closures
  • 601 GPIs currently non-compliant
2 min read

833 Grossly Polluting Industries along Ganga faced closure directions between 2019-24: MoS

Govt data reveals 833 grossly polluting industries along Ganga were issued closure orders from 2019-2024. Uttarakhand had the highest count in 2024.

"A total of 239 such GPIs were issued closure directions in five states in 2023, 178 in 2022, 187 in 2020 and 131 in 2019 - Kirti Vardhan Singh"

New Delhi, Feb 9

As many as 833 non-compliant Grossly Polluting Industries along the Ganga and its tributaries were issued closure directions by state pollution agencies in the last five years, the Lok Sabha was informed on Monday.

In 2024, a total of 98 such industries were issued closure directions. A maximum of 80 such industries were situated in Uttarakhand, followed by eight in West Bengal, seven in Bihar and three in Uttar Pradesh.

A total of 239 such GPIs were issued closure directions in five states in 2023, 178 in 2022, 187 in 2020 and 131 in 2019, said Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Kirti Vardhan Singh in a written reply.

He said at the national level, there are a total of 4,498 GPIs, out of which 3,637 are operational.

Among these operational industries, 601 industries were found non-compliant with environmental standards, against which actions by State Pollution Control Boards/Pollution Control Committees (SPCBs/PCCs) - Closure Directions: 29; Show Cause Notices: 571; Directives: 1 - were taken as per the provisions of the environmental laws, he said.

Sharing details about the status of industrial pollution in the country, the MoS said, as per the data provided by the SPCBs/PCCs, there are a total of 6,09,886 industries. Out of which, 5,44,364 industries are operational.

He said among these operational industries, 23,981 were found non-compliant with environmental standards, against which actions by SPCBs/PCCs (Closure Directions: 3600; Show Cause Notices: 13718; legal cases filed: 229; and Directives: 6434) were taken as per the provisions of the environmental laws.

Explaining the framework to check river pollution, MoS Kirti Vardhan Singh said that the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), in coordination with SPCBs/PCCs, currently monitors water quality at 4,922 locations across the country, including 2,265 river locations.

He said the CPCB has identified polluted river stretches (PRS) based on the water quality data for rivers with respect to the Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) parameter. BOD concentration exceeding 3 mg/l is identified as polluted stretches.

The PRS are classified under Priority Class I to V, Priority I being the most polluted with BOD value of more than 30 mg/l and Priority V being the least polluted with BOD ranging between 3 - 6 mg/l, said the Minister.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
Good to see Uttarakhand taking the lead with 80 closures this year. Being the origin state, it's crucial to protect Gangotri and the upper stretches. Hope this momentum continues. Jai Gange!
A
Aman W
The numbers are telling. Out of 544k+ operational industries, nearly 24k are non-compliant. That's a huge number still polluting our rivers. Closure directions are just 3600. The enforcement needs to be 10x stronger. Our future is at stake.
S
Sarah B
As someone who visited Varanasi last year, the pollution in the Ganga is heartbreaking. It's not just an environmental issue, it's a cultural and spiritual crisis for millions. Monitoring is good, but action is better. Keep closing them down.
K
Karthik V
Respectfully, while closures are necessary, what about the livelihoods of those employed in these industries? The government must have a rehabilitation plan. You can't just shut shops without providing alternatives. Balance is key.
M
Meera T
The classification of polluted stretches from Priority I to V is a good technical approach. Data-driven action is the way forward. Hope the CPCB and state boards get more resources and teeth to enforce these laws properly.

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