**Executive Summary**
This document presents the Indian government's response to an unstarred question regarding critically polluted river stretches (CPRS) in India, answered on December 4, 2025. It outlines the current state of river pollution, measures taken to improve water quality, particularly during religious gatherings, and actions against polluting industries. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) is cited extensively.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Current Status of CPRS:**
* Two polluted river stretches in Maharashtra, one in Assam, and four in Gujarat have a Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) exceeding 30 mg/l.
* The number of Polluted River Stretches (PRS) has decreased from 351 in 2018 to 296 in 2025.
* CPRS have decreased from 45 in 2018 to 37 in 2025.
* 149 PRSs have been delisted due to improved water quality.
* **Measures to Protect Water Quality (Ganga):**
* The Government, through the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG), is implementing preventive and mitigative measures.
* Measures include financial assistance, augmentation of sewage treatment infrastructure, temporary sanitation facilities, solid waste management, regulation of effluent discharges from Grossly Polluting Industries (GPIs), and water quality monitoring.
* Prayagraj Mela Authority prepared a comprehensive Sanitation Plan for Maha Kumbh 2025.
* CPCB monitored water quality (twice a week) at five stations from January 12, 2025 to February 20, 2025 during Maha Kumbh 2025.
* **Actions Against Polluting Industries:**
* All industrial units generating trade effluents must comply with stipulated standards.
* CPCB, SPCBs/PCCs monitor industries for compliance and take necessary action.
* There are 4493 industries under GPIs, with 3633 operational and 860 closed down on their own.
* 3031 operational industries were reported to be complying with environmental standards.
* Show-cause notices issued to 572 industries, closure directions to 29, and direction issued to 1 unit.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder:** Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)
* **Impact:** Responsible for identifying polluted river stretches, monitoring water quality, and ensuring industrial compliance with environmental standards.
* **Action Required:** Continue monitoring water quality, enforcing environmental regulations, and reporting on the status of polluted river stretches.
**Stakeholder:** State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs) and Pollution Control Committees (PCCs)
* **Impact:** Collaborate with CPCB to identify polluted river stretches and monitor industrial compliance at the state level.
* **Action Required:** Work with CPCB to enforce regulations and take action against non-compliant industries.
**Stakeholder:** National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) and State Governments
* **Impact:** Responsible for implementing measures to protect the water quality of the Ganga River.
* **Action Required:** Continue implementing preventive and mitigative measures, particularly during religious gatherings.
**Stakeholder:** Industrial Units
* **Impact:** Must comply with environmental standards for effluent discharge.
* **Action Required:** Ensure compliance with stipulated standards to avoid penalties and closure directions.
Key Entities Referenced
National River Conservation Plan (NRCP): A scheme for river pollution abatement, implementation of which has led to a reduction in the number of Polluted River Stretches (PRS).
Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB): Identifies polluted river stretches across the country in association with State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs) and Pollution Control Committees (PCCs) under National Water Quality Monitoring Programme.
Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act 1974: Act under which penalties are imposed on industries/polluters in critically polluted river stretches.
Ministry of Jal Shakti: The ministry to which the question about critically polluted river stretches was directed.
Ganga: The river whose water quality is monitored and protected during large religious gatherings.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI
DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT & GANGA REJUVENATION
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 881
ANSWERED ON 04.12.2025
CRITICALLY POLLUTED RIVER STRETCHES
881. SHRI KARTI P CHIDAMBARAM:
Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:
(a) the current number of Critically Polluted River Stretches (CPRS) where Biological Oxygen Demand
(BOD) exceeds 30 mg/l in Maharashtra, Assam and Gujarat;
(b) the reasons for 35 per cent of CPRS identified under the National River Conservation Plan showing
worsening pollution despite funds allocated for their cleaning up;
(c) the specific measures taken to protect the Ganga’s water quality during large religious gatherings like
the Kumbh Mela in view of concerns highlighted in media reports about pollution spikes and ecological
stress during such events; and
(d) whether the penalties have been imposed on industries/polluters in these stretches under the Water
(Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act and if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI
(SHRI RAJ BHUSHAN CHOUDHARY)
(a) & (b) As per the Central Pollution Control Board’s (CPCB) 2025 report on ‘Polluted River Stretches
for Restoration of Water Quality', two polluted river stretches have been identified in Maharashtra, one in
Assam and four in Gujarat, where the Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) levels exceed 30 mg/l.
CPCB identifies polluted river stretches in the rivers across the country in association with State
Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs) and Pollution Control Committees (PCCs) under National Water
Quality Monitoring Programme. Implementation of various pollution abatement programmes, including
National River Conservation Plan (NRCP) scheme, has led to a reduction in the number of Polluted River
Stretches (PRS) from 351 in 2018 to 296 in 2025.
It has been observed that CPRS have been decreased from 45 (2018) to 37 (2025). Further, 149
PRSs have been delisted and improvement in the water quality of 71 polluted river stretches has been
observed as compared to the CPCB's report of 2018.
(c) The Government, through the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) and in coordination with
the concerned State Governments, implements a series of preventive and mitigative measures to safeguard
the water quality of river Ganga during large religious gatherings such as the Kumbh Mela, Ardh Kumbh
and Magh Mela.
1These measures include providing partial financial assistance, augmentation of sewage treatment
infrastructure, provision of adequate temporary sanitation facilities, establishment of solid waste
management systems, regulation of effluent discharges from Grossly Polluting Industries (GPIs) and
organising continuous water quality monitoring. Awareness campaigns to sensitize pilgrims and
deployment of enforcement teams to check polluting activities at Prayagraj.
Besides, Prayagraj Mela Authority prepared a comprehensive Sanitation Plan for Maha Kumbh 2025 that
included Service Level Benchmarks (SLBs) to ensure accountability and performance, Post-Mela
sanitation measures and laying of temporary drainage lines.
In addition, based on the post event learnings, corrective actions and planning improvements are
implemented for future events including enhanced reuse strategies, improved disinfection protocols and
structured redeployment of sanitation infrastructure.
Further, the CPCB carried out water quality monitoring at five stations (twice a week) from 12th
January 2025 to 20th February 2025 during Maha Kumbh 2025 at Shringverpur Ghat, Lord Curzon
Bridge, Nagvasuki Mandir, Sangam and Deeha Ghat, covering auspicious bathing (Amrit Snan) days.
(d) As per the provisions of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 and the Water (Prevention &
Control of Pollution) Act 1974, all industrial units and other establishments generating trade effluents, are
required to comply with the stipulated standards before discharging into rivers and water bodies. CPCB,
SPCBs/PCCs monitor industries to ensure compliance of the provisions of the said Acts and take
necessary action accordingly.
As per CPCB, there are total of 4493 industries under Grossly Polluting Industries (GPIs), out of
which, 3633 number of industries were operational and 860 industries had closed down on their own.
Amongst the operational industries, 3031 industries were reported to be complying with the environmental
standards, while show-cause notices issued to 572 industries, closure directions issued to 29 non-
complying industries and direction issued to 1 unit.
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