**Executive Summary:**
This document is a response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 4797, answered on August 21, 2025, regarding critically polluted river stretches in India. It addresses the number of stretches with high BOD in Maharashtra, reasons for pollution despite cleanup funds, measures for protecting Ganga's water quality during religious gatherings, and penalties imposed on polluters under the Water Prevention & Control of Pollution Act, 1974. The report references data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) up to 2022 and monitoring activities during Maha Kumbh 2025.
**Key Points / Main Content:**
* **Polluted River Stretches:**
* In Maharashtra, 4 river stretches exceeded the BOD level of 30 mg/l as of the 2022 CPCB report.
* The number of Polluted River Stretches (PRS) decreased from 351 in 2018 to 311 in 2022 due to pollution abatement programs.
* 106 PRSs were delisted, and water quality improved in 74 stretches compared to 2018.
* **Ganga Water Quality during Religious Gatherings:**
* Preventive and mitigative measures are implemented by the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) in coordination with State Governments.
* Measures include financial assistance, sewage treatment augmentation, temporary sanitation, solid waste management, effluent regulation, and water quality monitoring.
* Awareness campaigns and enforcement teams are deployed during events.
* The Prayagraj Mela Authority developed a Sanitation Plan for Maha Kumbh 2025, including Service Level Benchmarks (SLBs).
* CPCB monitored water quality at five stations twice a week from January 12, 2025, to February 20, 2025, during Maha Kumbh 2025.
* **Industrial Pollution and Penalties:**
* Industries generating trade effluents must comply with stipulated standards under the Environment Protection Act, 1986, and the Water Prevention & Control of Pollution Act, 1974.
* CPCB, SPCBs, and PCCs monitor industries for compliance.
* Out of 4,538 Grossly Polluting Industries (GPIs), 3,672 were operational and 866 had closed.
* 3,064 operational industries complied with standards; show-cause notices were issued to 571, closure directions to 36 non-complying industries and penalty has been imposed on 01 industry.
**Impact Analysis:**
* **State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs) and Pollution Control Committees (PCCs):**
* *Impact:* Responsible for identifying and monitoring polluted river stretches in association with CPCB.
* *Action Required:* Continue to collaborate with CPCB in monitoring and implementing pollution abatement programs.
* **Industries:**
* *Impact:* Subject to compliance with environmental standards for effluent discharge under the Environment Protection Act, 1986, and the Water Prevention & Control of Pollution Act, 1974.
* *Action Required:* Ensure compliance with effluent standards, respond to show-cause notices, and avoid closure directions or penalties.
* **National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) and State Governments:**
* *Impact:* Responsible for implementing measures to protect the water quality of the Ganga during large religious gatherings.
* *Action Required:* Continue implementing preventive and mitigative measures, including infrastructure augmentation and awareness campaigns.
* **Prayagraj Mela Authority:**
* *Impact:* Responsible for sanitation planning during events like Maha Kumbh.
* *Action Required:* Implement and adhere to the Sanitation Plan for Maha Kumbh 2025, including Service Level Benchmarks (SLBs).
* **Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB):**
* *Impact:* Monitors water quality, identifies polluted stretches, and oversees industrial compliance.
* *Action Required:* Continue monitoring water quality, enforcing regulations, and collaborating with SPCBs and PCCs.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Jal Shakti: The Indian government ministry responsible for water resources and river development.
Ganga: A major river in India, considered sacred in Hinduism. The policy addresses its rejuvenation and water quality.
National River Conservation Plan: A scheme by the Indian government to reduce pollution in rivers.
Kumbh Mela: A major Hindu pilgrimage and festival held every 12 years at four locations in India. The text refers to measures to protect the Ganga's water quality during this event.
Central Pollution Control Board: A statutory organisation under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change responsible for pollution control.
Maharashtra: A state in India where the Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) level exceeded 30 milligrams per litre (mgl) at 4 polluted river stretches.
Water Prevention Control of Pollution Act, 1974: An Indian law enacted to prevent and control water pollution.
National Mission for Clean Ganga: An Indian government initiative to reduce pollution and conserve the Ganga river.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI
DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT & GANGA REJUVENATION
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4797
ANSWERED ON 21.08.2025
CRITICALLY POLLUTED RIVER STRETCHES
4797. DR. KIRSAN NAMDEO:
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;
(b) the reasons for which the 35% of CPRS identified in the National River Conservation Plan show
worsening pollution despite funds allocated for their cleaning up;
(c) the specific measures taken/proposed to be taken by the Government to protect the Ganga’s water
quality during large religious gatherings such as the Kumbh Mela in view of recent concerns highlighted
in media reports regarding pollution spikes and ecological stress during such events; and
(d) whether any penalties have been imposed on the industries/polluters in these stretches under the
Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI
(SHRI RAJ BHUSHAN CHOUDHARY)
(a) & (b) As per the latest Report on ‘Polluted River Stretches for Restoration of Water Quality’
published by Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) in 2022, , in Maharashtra, the BOD level exceeded
30 milligrams per litre (mg/l) at 4 polluted river stretches.
CPCB identifies polluted river stretches in the rivers across the country in association with State
Pollution Control Boards (SPCB) and Pollution Control Committees (PCCs) under National Water
Quality Monitoring programme. Implementation of various pollution abatement programmes, including
NRCP scheme, has led to a reduction in the number of Polluted River Stretches (PRS) from 351 in 2018
to 311 in 2022. Further, 106 PRSs have been delisted and improvement in the water quality of 74
polluted river stretches has been observed as compared to the 2018 report.
(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 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 sensitise 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 4,538 industries under GPIs. Out of which, 3672 number of industries
were operational and 866 industries had closed down on their own. Amongst the operational industries,
3064 industries were reported to be complying with the environmental standards, while show-cause
notices issued to 571 industries and closure directions issued to 36 non-complying industries. In addition,
penalty has been imposed on 01 industry.
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