Executive Summary:
The Ministry of Jal Shakti addresses pollution control in rivers through various schemes, primarily the Namami Gange Program and the National River Conservation Plan (NRCP). These initiatives focus on sewage treatment and infrastructure development to improve water quality. State/Union Territories and local bodies are responsible for treating sewage and industrial effluents before discharge. The goal is to achieve water quality suitable for outdoor bathing and to restore polluted river stretches.
Key Points / Main Content:
* **Responsibility and Programs:**
* States/Union Territories and local bodies are primarily responsible for treating sewage and industrial effluents.
* Namami Gange Program focuses on rejuvenation, protection, and management of the Ganga and its tributaries.
* NRCP focuses on the conservation of other rivers across the country.
* **Namami Gange Program:**
* 212 sewerage infrastructure projects have been initiated, including 5220 km of sewer networks and a sewage treatment capacity of 6540 MLD.
* 136 projects have been completed, creating/rehabilitating a sewage treatment capacity of 3781 MLD.
* Approximately Rs. 10,500 crore spent in the last 5 years out of a total expenditure of Rs. 20,000 crore.
* **National River Conservation Plan (NRCP):**
* Covers 57 rivers in 17 States.
* Has created a total sewage treatment capacity of 2945 MLD in identified towns.
* Rs. 1677 crore released in the last 5 years for project implementation.
* **Related Schemes:**
* AMRUT, Smart Cities Mission, and Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban) also contribute to sewerage infrastructure development and improved water quality.
* **Pollution Assessment:**
* Polluted river stretches decreased from 351 in 2018 to 311 in 2022.
* 106 river stretches are no longer polluted, and water quality improved in 74 stretches.
* Dissolved Oxygen levels in the Ganga are within acceptable limits.
* Increased Dolphin populations indicate improved river health.
* **Effluent Discharge Standards:**
* Environment Protection Rules, 1986 mandate the treatment of domestic wastewater before discharge.
* States/UTs have prepared action plans for sewage management based on National Green Tribunal directions.
Impact Analysis:
States/Union Territories and Local Bodies:
* Impact: Responsible for ensuring the treatment of sewage and industrial effluents before discharge into water bodies or land.
* Action Required: Implement and maintain effective sewage and effluent treatment infrastructure and adhere to effluent discharge standards.
Central and State Governments:
* Impact: Oversee and support the implementation of river conservation programs and action plans.
* Action Required: Monitor the progress of projects, provide funding, and ensure compliance with environmental regulations.
Citizens:
* Impact: Benefit from cleaner rivers and improved water quality for various uses, including bathing and ecosystem support.
* Action Required: Support and participate in local initiatives for river conservation and proper waste management.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Jal Shakti: The Indian government ministry responsible for water resources and river development.
Namami Gange Program: An initiative by the Indian government for the rejuvenation, protection, and management of the river Ganga and its tributaries.
National River Conservation Plan: A plan for the conservation of rivers in India to achieve designated water quality.
River Ganga: A major river in India, the focus of the Namami Gange Program.
Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB): An organization responsible for monitoring and assessing river pollution in India.
Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT): A mission focused on urban renewal, including sewerage infrastructure development.
National Green Tribunal: A tribunal in India that deals with environmental issues, including river pollution.
Environment Protection Rules, 1986: Indian regulations establishing effluent discharge standards to protect the environment.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI
DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT & GANGA REJUVENATION
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1977
ANSWERED ON 31.07.2025
CONTROL OF POLLUTION IN RIVERS
†1977. DR. ANAND KUMAR
Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:
(a) the details of the schemes implemented/being implemented by the Government to insulate rivers of the
country from pollution and the achievements made therefrom;
(b) the details of the funds spent by the Government on making the rivers free from pollution during the
last five years;
(c) the steps taken/being taken by the Government to make the river potable and the timeline set for the
purpose;
(d) whether the Government has any plan to get entire sewage water of all small and big cities treated
through Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) before its flow into the rivers; and
(e) if so, the details thereof and the timeline set in this regard?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI
(SHRI RAJ BHUSHAN CHOUDHARY)
(a) to (c) It is the primary responsibility of States/Union Territories and local bodies to ensure required
treatment of sewage and industrial effluents, before discharging into recipient water bodies or land for
prevention and control of pollution therein. This Ministry is implementing Namami Gange Program for
rejuvenation, protection and management of river Ganga and its tributaries, and National River
Conservation Plan for conservation of other rivers in the country to achieve water quality of the
designated best use for outdoor bathing.
Under Namami Gange Program, a total of 212 sewerage infrastructure projects involving laying of
5220 km of sewer network and sewage treatment capacity of 6540 million litres per day (MLD) have been
taken up. Out of that, 136 projects have been completed resulting creation/rehabilitation of sewage
treatment capacity of 3781 MLD. Out of the total expenditure of around Rs. 20,000 crores under Namami
Gange Program so far, during last 5 years around Rs.10,500 crore were spent towards implementation of
various projects.
NRCP has so far covered 57 rivers in 17 States in the country at a cost of Rs.8970 crore, and total
sewage treatment capacity of 2945 MLD has been created in identified towns. An amount of Rs.1677
crore was released during last 5 years under the scheme for implementation of projects.
1The schemes of Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT), Smart Cities
Mission and Swachh Bharat Mission - Urban under the aegis of Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs
are also being implemented which are aimed at creating and/or augmenting sewerage infrastructure in
identified towns and thus improving water quality of rivers and other water bodies, sanitation systems and
water management in those towns.
Cleaning/rejuvenation of rivers is a continuous and dynamic process. As per the last report of CPCB
of 2022 on pollution assessment of rivers in the country based on water quality monitoring results,
polluted river stretches in the country were reduced to 311 compared to 351 in 2018. Also, 106 river
stretches were found no more polluted and improvement in river water quality was observed in 74
stretches. In case of river Ganga, improvement has been observed in the various stretches of the Ganga
River as per the CPCB report and Dissolved Oxygen has been found within the acceptable limits and
satisfactory to support river ecosystem in its entire stretch. Also, there has been notable increase in
population of Dolphins in river Ganga and its presence has been noted in new stretches and rivers of
Ganga basin, shows substantial improvement in health of the rivers due to conservation efforts.
(d) & (e) The effluent discharge standards stipulated under the Environment (Protection) Rules, 1986
necessitate treatment of domestic waste water from cities/towns before discharging into surface waters,
land or public sewerage system. As per the directions of National Green Tribunal in OA
No.673/2018, States/UTs have prepared action plans including sewage management in identified
cities/towns for restoration of polluted river stretches in their jurisdiction. Implementation of these action
plans is reviewed at State level and also at the Central level from time to time.
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