See Full Document Text
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3783
TO BE ANSWERED ON 16.03.2026
Funds for Conservation of Rivers
3783. SHRI SUNIL BOSE:
Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to
state:
(a) whether the Government is aware of the reports concerning the discharge of untreated
or partially treated sewage from urban areas situated along the Cauvery (Kaveri) and
Kabini rivers into the respective river bodies, leading to severe water pollution;
(b) if so, the specific cities and towns that have been identified as major contributors to this
pollution and the quantity of sewage (in MLD) being discharged into these rivers;
(c) the measures taken by the Government to address this issue, including the installation
of Sewage Treatment Plants and the implementation of proper sewage networks in the
concerned urban local bodies; and
(d) the details of total funds sanctioned and released for the conservation and rejuvenation
of the Cauvery and Kabini rivers, specifically for pollution abatement projects, during
the last three financial years, along with the progress of utilisation of these funds?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND
CLIMATE CHANGE
(SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)
(a) to (d)
CPCB in association with State Pollution Control Boards/Pollution Control Committees monitors
water quality of aquatic resources at 4922 locations under National Water Quality Monitoring
Programme (NWMP).
The water quality data for the monitored locations on River Cauvery under NWMP in the state
of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu in year 2024 is enclosed as Annexure-I.
The water quality data for the monitored locations on River Kabini under NWMP in the state of
Karnataka in year 2024 is enclosed as Annexure-II.
Based on the comparative assessment of polluted river stretches (PRS) identified in year 2016
and 2017, the PRS have been identified in year 2018.
- The stretch of River Cauvery from Ranganathittu to Sathyamangalam Bridge was
identified as PRS under Priority Class-IV in the state of Karnataka and
- The stretch of river Cauvery from Metur to Mayiladuthurai which was identified as PRS
under Priority Class-I in the state of Tamil Nadu.- River Kabini was identified as PRS under Priority Class-IV from Nanjanagud to Hejjige
in Karnataka.
- As per the latest report of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) on Polluted River
Stretches, (2025), the Kabini River has no polluted stretches in Kerala.
Based on the assessment of water quality data for the year 2022 and 2023, the polluted river
stretches have been identified in year 2025.
- In Karnataka, River Cauvery has been identified as PRS under Priority Class-III from
downstream of KR Nagar Bridge to Confluence of Sangam.
- In Tamil Nadu, River Cauvery has been identified as PRS under Priority Class-II at Erode
near Virapalayam to Pitchavaram.
- In Karnataka, River Kabini has been identified as PRS under Priority Class-V from
Saragur village downstream to water supply intake point to Narasipura town.
As per information provided by Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board, based on the monitoring
results, appropriate directions are issued to the concerned Urban Local Bodies and authorities to
ensure proper collection, conveyance and treatment of municipal sewage through sewerage systems
and Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs). Local Bodies including, Erode City Municipal Corporation,
Karur Municipal Corporation, Tiruchirappalli City Municipal Corporation, Thanjavur Municipality,
Kumbakonam Municipality, Pallipalayam Municipality, Rasipuram Municipality, Kumarapalayam
Municipality and Dharmapuri Municipality have established Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) for
treatment of municipal sewage generated within their jurisdiction, to ensure treatment of municipal
sewage before entering into the water bodies. The operation of those STPs is regularly monitored
by the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board through the consent mechanism and periodic and
surprise inspections. Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board has instructed those Local Bodies to
install Online Continuous Effluent Monitoring Systems (OCEMS) in the STPs for real-time
monitoring of treated sewage quality and to ensure compliance with the prescribed environmental
standards.
For establishments generating sewage and falling under the consent requirements of the Kerala
State Pollution Control Board, periodic compliance monitoring is carried out to ensure
adherence to prescribed standards. In the catchment area of river Kabani, at Kalpatta, a Fecal
Sludge Treatment Plant (FSTP) with a capacity of 0.01 MLD is presently operational.
Karnataka State government formed a Technical Expert Committee in 2024 to address
pollution in the Cauvery River and Kabini River. The committee studied sewage sources
contributing to the pollution and recommended both short-term and long-term corrective
measures for relevant stakeholders. The Karnataka State Pollution Control Board has filed
criminal cases against the Mysuru City Corporation and Mysuru Development Authority for
releasing untreated sewage into the rivers. Additionally, notices were issued to local Gram
Panchayat in the river catchment areas directing them not to discharge untreated wastewater
into stormwater drains or canals that flow into these rivers.
Further, the steps taken by the Government to strengthen the enforcement of environmental
regulations and control of water pollution in the country are given below:
1. CPCB directed all SPCBs/PCCs under Section 18(1) (b) of The Water (Prevention &
Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 to direct concerned agencies in the State/UT to develop
infrastructure for sewage treatment.2. CPCB issued directions under Section 5 of The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 to
Municipal Corporations of 46 Metropolitan cities and 20 State Capitals for Treatment
and Utilization of Sewage for Restoration of Water Quality of River.
3. CPCB issued directions under section 18 (1) (b) of the Water (Prevention and Control
of Pollution), Act, 1974 to all SPCBs/PCCs for installation of Online Continuous
Effluent Monitoring System (OCEMS) for self-surveillance of Sewage Treatment
Plants.
As per information provided by National River Conservation Directorate (NRCD), Ministry of
Jal Shakti (MoJS), No funds have been sanctioned or released for the conservatíon and
rejuvenation of the Cauvery River and Kabini River, specifically for pollution abatement
projects, during the last three financial years under the National River Conservation Plan
(NRCP).
*****Annexure-I
Water quality data for the monitored locations on River Cauvery under NWMP in the
state of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu in year 2024
Monitoring Location State Dissolved pH BOD Fecal
Name O2 (mg/L) (mg/L) Coliform
(MPN/100ml)
Min Max Min Max Min Max Min Max
Primary Water Criteria for Outdoor > 5 mg/L 6.5-8.5 < 3 mg/L <2500
Bathing MPN/100 ML
River Cauvery D/S At Karnataka 6.5 7.8 6.9 8.4 1 3 1.8 68
Kanive
Ramalingeswara
Temple Bridge,
Kushalanagar
River Cauvery At Karnataka 6.3 7.8 7 8.2 1 3 25 110
Kushal Nagar U/S
(Near Baichanahalli)
River Cauvery D/S Of Karnataka 6.4 7.9 6.9 8.9 1 3 24 63
Kushalanagar Town
River Cauvery D/S At Karnataka 6.6 7.8 6.8 8.4 1 2 17 68
Kondanagiri Bridge
River Cauvery D/S Of Karnataka 6.5 7.8 6.9 8.1 1 2.5 21 81
At Bethri Bridge ,
Murnad
River Cauvery D/S Of Karnataka 6.4 7.7 7 8 1 3 17 78
At Nellu Dikeri
Bridge, Siddapura
River Cauvery D/S Of Karnataka 6.8 7.9 7.1 8.1 1 2.1 17 84
At Dubare, Hanging
Bridge (Theppa Da
Kindi)
River Cauvery At Karnataka 7.1 8 6.9 7.7 1 1.6 20 40
Balmavati Bridge To
Thandra Hole
Tributary
River Cauvery D/S At Karnataka 6.7 8.2 7 8.1 1 2.1 17 40
Bhagamandala Bridge
River Cauvery At Karnataka 6.9 8.4 7 8.2 1 2 20 40
Napokulu Bdg (D/S)
Kootu Hole At Water Karnataka 6.6 8.1 6.9 8.1 1 2.5 17 83
Supply Intake Point
To Madikeri Town
River Cauvery At Karnataka 7.2 8.2 8.08 8.7 1 1.7 14 79
Ajjibore (Bangalore)Monitoring Location State Dissolved pH BOD Fecal
Name O2 (mg/L) (mg/L) Coliform
(MPN/100ml)
Min Max Min Max Min Max Min Max
Primary Water Criteria for Outdoor > 5 mg/L 6.5-8.5 < 3 mg/L <2500
Bathing MPN/100 ML
River Cauvery At Karnataka 6 6.9 7.6 8.6 2 4.5 110 1400
Karighatta
Nimishamba Temple
Road Bridge
Srirangapatna,Maydya
River Karnataka 6.5 7.4 7.6 8.4 1 3 82 140
Cauvery Atganjam
Water Supply Intake
Point Near Gosai
Ghat,
Srirangapatna,Maydya
River Cauvery At Karnataka 5.4 6.8 7.6 8.7 2 5 110 450
Mahadevpura Road
Bridge,Maydya
River Cauvery At Karnataka 6.5 7.5 7.5 8.5 1 2.5 92 140
Ganjam Water Supply
Intake Point Near
Gosai Ghat,
Srirangapatna
River Cauvery At Krs Karnataka 6.5 7.2 7.7 8.6 1.2 2.5 68 120
Dam, Balamurikshetra
River Cauvery At Krs Karnataka 6.5 7.3 7.6 8.6 1 2.3 61 120
Dam Mandya
River Cauvery At Karnataka 6 7 7.7 8.5 1.6 4 83 210
Ranganathittu
River Cauvery At D/S Karnataka 6 7.2 7.7 8.6 1.2 4 78 170
Of Karekuara Village
River Cauvery At Karnataka 5.1 6.9 7.6 8.5 1.9 5 93 260
Water Supply Intake
Point To
Srirangapatna Town
River Cauvery At Karnataka 5.4 6.9 7.6 8.5 1.8 5 100 270
Water Supply Intake
Point To Mandya
Town
River Cauvery At Sri Karnataka 5.1 6.8 7.5 8.5 2 6 120 390
Rangapattanna, D/S
Of Road Bdg.
River Cauvery At Karnataka 6.4 7.5 6.9 8.6 1 3 61 170
Water Supply IntakeMonitoring Location State Dissolved pH BOD Fecal
Name O2 (mg/L) (mg/L) Coliform
(MPN/100ml)
Min Max Min Max Min Max Min Max
Primary Water Criteria for Outdoor > 5 mg/L 6.5-8.5 < 3 mg/L <2500
Bathing MPN/100 ML
Point At Tore Kadana
Halli
River Cauvery D/S Of Karnataka 5.9 7.5 7.7 8.5 1 3.5 61 140
Maddur Water Supply
Treatment Plant At
Bachalli
River Cauvery At Karnataka 6.2 7.3 7.2 8.6 1.2 3.1 14 240
Bannur Bridge
River Cauvery At Karnataka 6.7 7.5 7.7 8.6 1 2.1 61 93
Water Supply Intake
Point To Mysore
River Cauvery U/S Of Karnataka 6.8 7.5 7.5 8.6 1 2.2 61 120
Kr Nagar
River Cauvery D/S Of Karnataka 6.7 7.3 7.6 8.4 1 2.5 78 170
Kr Nagar Bridge
River Cauvery D/S Karnataka 6.5 7.7 7.6 8.5 1 2.5 68 93
Bharachuki Falls,
Sathegala, Kollegala
River Cauvery At Karnataka 6.2 6.9 7.6 8.5 1.9 3.5 92 170
Sathyagalam Bridge
River Cauvery At Karnataka 6.1 6.9 7.6 8.5 1.9 4 92 210
Water Supply Intake
Point At Kollegala
Dasanapura
River Cauvery At Karnataka 6.4 7.5 7.7 8.6 1 3 68 140
Water Supply Intake
Point At
Shivansamudra
River Cauvery Before Karnataka 4.9 7 7.2 8.5 4 8 4.5 2200
Confluence At
Sangam
River Cauvery At Tamil 5.4 6.6 7.65 8.36 1 2.7 6.8 59
Mettur Nadu
River Bhavani At Tamil 4.5 6.6 7.24 8.64 2.1 2.9 11 40
Bhavani, Tamilnadu Nadu
River Cauvery At Tamil 4.9 6.8 7.17 7.93 1.6 2.9 11 37
Erode U/S Nadu
River Cauvery At Tamil 4.6 6.8 6.93 8.29 2 3.2 11 75
Erode Near NaduMonitoring Location State Dissolved pH BOD Fecal
Name O2 (mg/L) (mg/L) Coliform
(MPN/100ml)
Min Max Min Max Min Max Min Max
Primary Water Criteria for Outdoor > 5 mg/L 6.5-8.5 < 3 mg/L <2500
Bathing MPN/100 ML
Virapalayam,
Tamilnadu
River Cauvery At Tamil 4.7 6.9 7.04 8.64 1.3 2.8 11 47
Bhawani D/S Nadu
River Cauvery At Tamil 5.8 7.1 6.45 8.62 1.8 2.9 12 40
Urrachikottai, Erode, Nadu
Tamilnadu
River Cauvery At Tamil 5.5 7.4 7.78 8.15 1 3 14 36
Pallipalayam D/S Nadu
River Cauvery At Tamil 4.4 6.3 7.55 8.36 1.8 3.6 14 148
Pallippalayam Nadu
River Cauvery Tamil 5.2 7.4 7.58 8.1 1 3.6 14 177
Locations At Nadu
Kumarapalayam
River Cauvery At Tamil 5.2 7.6 7.54 8.52 1 3.2 14 66
Kumarapalayam U/S Nadu
River Cauvery At Tamil 5.6 6.9 7.57 8.2 1 3.6 14 68
Komarapalayam, Nadu
Namakal, Tamilnadu
River Cauvery At Tamil 5.5 6.5 7.76 8.25 1 2.7 12 66
Seerapalayam, Nadu
Namakal, Tamilnadu
River Cauvery Tamil 5.4 7.2 7.53 8.33 1 3.9 12 59
Atparamathy Velore Nadu
Tamilnadu
River Cauvery At Tamil 5.4 7.7 7.95 8.9 1 3.6 12 120
Mohanur Near Nadu
Pattaipalayam,
Tamilnadu
River Cauvery At Tamil 6 6.8 7.53 8.9 2.1 2.6 2 20
Karur U/S Nadu
River Cauvery At Tamil 5.6 7 7.14 7.9 2.1 2.9 6.1 14
Thirumukkudal-Confl. Nadu
Pt.Of R. Amravati,
Tamilnadu
River Cauvery At Tamil 6 7 7.33 8.18 2.1 3 2 816
Pugalur, Karur, Nadu
Tamilnadu
River Cauvery At Tamil 5.8 8.1 7.16 8.7 1.4 2.4 1.8 21
Musiri NaduMonitoring Location State Dissolved pH BOD Fecal
Name O2 (mg/L) (mg/L) Coliform
(MPN/100ml)
Min Max Min Max Min Max Min Max
Primary Water Criteria for Outdoor > 5 mg/L 6.5-8.5 < 3 mg/L <2500
Bathing MPN/100 ML
River Cauvery At Tamil 6.9 7.6 7.48 8.3 1.4 2.8 2 17
Tiruchirappalli U/S, Nadu
Tamilnadu
River Cauvery At Tamil 6.4 7.6 7.39 8.12 1 2.6 4.6 21.2
Pettaivaithalai, Trichy, Nadu
Tamilnadu
River Cauvery At Tamil 6.5 7.5 7.44 8.17 1.5 2.7 5.6 95.7
Tiruchirappalli D/S, Nadu
Tamilnadu
River Cauvery At Tamil 6.4 7.5 7.29 8.13 1 2.4 4 19
Trichy, Grand Nadu
Anaicut, Tamilnadu
River Cauvery At Tamil 6.1 7.9 7.14 7.96 1.3 2.5 11 95.7
Kumbakonam, Nadu
Thanjavur, Tamilnadu
River Cauvery At Tamil 4 5.4 7.65 8.59 3 10 28 88.1
Mayiladuthurai, Nadu
Nagapattinam,
Tamilnadu
River Cauvery At Tamil 4 5.2 7.56 9.12 6 9 23 435.2
Mayiladuthurai D/S Nadu
River Cauvery At Tamil 5.6 6.8 7.81 8.28 2.4 8 17 95
Coleroon, Tamilnadu Nadu
River Cauvery At Tamil 5.4 6.7 7.72 8.23 2.2 6 9.2 38
Pitchavaram, Nadu
Tamilnadu
River Cauvery At Tamil 6.8 7.4 7.4 7.82 1.2 1.8 10 21.2
Karuthattanudi Nadu
Thanjavur, TamilnaduAnnexure-II
The water quality data for the monitored locations on River Kabini under NWMP in
the state of Karnataka in year 2024
Monitoring Location Dissolved pH BOD Fecal
O (mg/L) (mg/L) Coliform
2
(MPN/100ml)
Min Max Min Max Min Max Min Max
Primary Water Criteria for > 5 mg/L 6.5-8.5 < 3 mg/L < 2500
Outdoor Bathing MPN/100 ML
River Kabini At Cause Way Sattur 6.2 7.3 7.1 8.3 1.8 3.5 91 210
River Kabini At Saragur Village 5.9 7 7.1 8.5 1.5 4 91 170
D/S
River Kabini At Water Intake Of 6.6 7.6 7 8.2 1 2.5 61 93
Kiadb At Nanjangud
River Kabini At Bathing Ghat, 5.8 6.9 7 8.2 2 5 120 450
Nanjanagud
River Kabini U/S Intake Point To 5.3 7.1 7.2 8.2 1.6 3.8 91 170
Nanjanagud & Gundlupet At
Debur
River Kabini At Water Supply 5.2 6.9 7.1 8.2 2 6 110 630
Intake Point To T. Narasipura
*******