Cleaning of Rivers

Cleaning of Rivers

The Ganga Action Plan (GAP) was launched by the Government in 1985, for pollution abatement activities in identified polluted stretches of river Ganga and later expanded to include other major rivers under National River Conservation Plan (NRCP).  NRCP presently covers 40 rivers in 190 towns spread over 20 States. Pollution abatement schemes implemented under the plan include interception, diversion and treatment of sewage; low cost sanitation works on river banks; electric/ improved wood based crematoria, etc. Sewage treatment capacity of 4664 mld (million litres per day) has been created under the Plan. An expenditure of Rs.5343.06 crore has been incurred so far under NRCP, including the National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA) programme, and the river-wise details are at Annexure.

Based on independent monitoring undertaken by reputed institutions, the water quality in terms of BOD (Bio-chemical Oxygen Demand) values for major rivers is reported to have improved as compared to the water quality before taking up pollution abatement works. However, the levels of bacterial contamination in terms of fecal coliform are reported to be exceeding the maximum permissible limit at various monitoring locations.

In light of experience gained in implementation of the river action plans since 1985, the river conservation strategy was reviewed by the Government. Accordingly, in February 2009, the NGRBA has been constituted as an empowered, planning, financing, monitoring and coordinating authority with the objective to ensure effective abatement of pollution and conservation of the river Ganga by adopting a holistic river basin approach.   

          External assistance from bilateral/ multilateral agencies is availed of from time to time by the Government for conservation of rivers.  Presently, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has extended loan assistance of Yen 13.33 billion for Phase-II and Yen 32.571 billion for Phase-III of the ongoing Yamuna Action Plan (YAP) for pollution abatement of the river.  

         

JICA is providing loan assistance of 11.184 billion Yen for pollution abatement of the river Ganga at Varanasi.   World Bank is also providing loan assistance of US $ 1 billion for abatement of pollution of river Ganga under the NGRBA programme.  

          Conservation of rivers is an ongoing and collective effort of the Central and State Governments and this Ministry is supplementing the efforts of the State Governments in abatement of pollution in rivers under NRCP. Further, the Central Pollution Control Board and respective State Pollution Control Boards monitor industries for compliance with respect to effluents discharge standards and take action for non-compliance under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.

          The above information was given by the Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Environment and Forests, Shrimati Jayanthi Natarajan to the Parliament today. 

ANNEXURE

Riverwise details of expenditure under National River Conservation Plan, including National Ganga River Basin Authority programme

S.No.	Name of River	Name of State	Rs. In crore
1,2	Adyar, Cooum,	Tamil Nadu	386.42
3,4	Beas & Satluj	Punjab	424.17
5	Beehar	Madhya Pradesh	1.69
6	Betwa	Madhya Pradesh	5.63
7	Bhadra	Karnataka	4.14
8	Brahmini	Orissa	2.51
9	Cauvery	Karnataka and Tamil Nadu	262.39
10	Chambal	Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan	25.98
11	Damodar	Jharkhand and West Bengal	4.29
12	Diphu & Dhansiri	Nagaland	0.00
13	Ganga	Uttrakhand, Uttar Pradeh, Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal	1302.89
14	Godavari	Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra	112.61
15	Gomti	Uttar Pradesh	468.40
16	Khan	Madhya Pradesh	39.56
17	Krishna	Maharashtra	21.95
18	Kshipra	Madhya Pradesh	17.32
19	Mahanadi	Orissa	8.04
20	Mahananda	West Bengal	44.32
21	Mandakini	Madhya Pradesh	0.00
22	Mandovi	Goa	13.50
23	Musi	Andhra Pradesh	336.85
24	Narmada	Madhya Pradesh	3.31
25	Pamba	Kerala	1.47
26	Ranmgqanga	Uttar Pradesh	30.92
27	Panchganga	Maharashtra	0.00
28	Pennar	Karnataka	35.94
29	Rani Chu	Sikkim	67.47
30	Sabarmati	Gujarat	95.08
31	Subarnrekha	Jharkhand	0.98
32	Tamrabarani	Tamil Nadu	54.26
33	Tapi	Maharashtra	0.00
34	Tapti	Madhya Pradesh	3.88
35	Tunga	Karnataka	2.60
36	Tungabhadra	Karnataka	6.22
37	Vaigai	Tamil Nadu	111.84
38	Vennar	Tamil Nadu	63.31
39	Wainganga	Madhya Pradesh	0.94
40	Yamuna	Haryana, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh	1341.50
	Coastal Area (Puri)	Orissa	40.68
Grand Total			5343.06

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(Release ID :87252)