21st Central Monitoring Committee Reviews State-wise Progress on Polluted River Stretches and Sewage Management

**Executive Summary** The 21st Central Monitoring Committee (CMC) meeting on river rejuvenation reviewed state-wise progress in managing polluted river stretches and sewage. The meeting urged for time-bound actions and strengthened monitoring of Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) to improve river water quality, with a call for states to adopt an outcome-oriented approach. **Key Points / Main Content** * **River Rejuvenation Review:** The CMC reviewed the progress of states in implementing approved Action Plans for river rejuvenation, based on the CPCB's 2025 report. * **Focus Areas for Improvement:** Priority areas include bridging sewage treatment gaps, enhancing the performance of existing STPs, expediting STP projects, strengthening industrial pollution control, promoting the reuse of treated wastewater, and accelerating floodplain demarcation. * **Performance and Monitoring:** Sustainable river water quality improvement depends on effective infrastructure utilization, regulatory compliance, and timely project execution. Real-time monitoring is encouraged to enhance transparency and accountability in pollution control efforts. * **Polluted River Stretches:** A comparative review showed a reduction in the overall number of polluted river stretches since 2018. However, some states reported new polluted stretches and deterioration in specific river segments, necessitating focused corrective action. * **State-Specific Review:** Progress on sewage treatment plants, capacity utilization, floodplain zoning, treated wastewater reuse, and institutional monitoring was reviewed for several states and union territories. * **Call to Action:** States are urged to adopt a time-bound, outcome-oriented approach to river rejuvenation, emphasizing operational efficiency, inter-departmental coordination, and sustained compliance for long-term water quality improvement. **Impact Analysis** **States/UTs with Polluted River Stretches (PRS)** * **Impact:** These states are directly involved in implementing the Action Plans for river rejuvenation and managing polluted river stretches. They are experiencing the challenge of reducing pollution and improving water quality. * **Action Required:** Adopt a time-bound, outcome-oriented approach to river rejuvenation, focus on operational efficiency, enhance inter-departmental coordination, and ensure sustained compliance with pollution control measures. **State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs)** * **Impact:** SPCBs are responsible for monitoring water quality and ensuring regulatory compliance. They need to strengthen their monitoring mechanisms and data reporting. * **Action Required:** Strengthen monitoring of STP performance and pollution control efforts. Enable real-time monitoring to enhance transparency and accountability. **National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG)** * **Impact:** NMCG plays a crucial role in coordinating and implementing the Namami Gange program, which includes river rejuvenation efforts. * **Action Required:** Continue to oversee and support state-level efforts, provide necessary guidance, and facilitate progress on key focus areas identified by the CMC. **Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation (DoWR, RD & GR)** * **Impact:** As the administrative department, it is responsible for policy formulation, funding, and overall direction of river rejuvenation programs. * **Action Required:** Continue to champion the cause of river rejuvenation, ensure effective implementation of policies, and drive the adoption of time-bound actions and strengthened monitoring across states.

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