Parliament Question: Industrial Pollution in the Country

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1571 TO BE ANSWERED ON 09.02.2026 Industrial Pollution in the Country 1571. DR. MOHAMMAD JAWED: Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state: (a) the current status of industrial pollution across the country; (b) the details of steps taken by the Government to prevent pollution of rivers due to the discharge of industrial effluents and wastes; (c) the details of the provisions relating to penalties under the existing laws for polluting rivers and other water bodies; and (d) the number of violations detected and the action taken against industries for polluting major rivers in the country during the last five years, river and State/UT-wise with particular reference to rivers flowing through the State of Bihar? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH) (a) As per the data provided by the State Pollution Control Boards/Pollution Control Committees (SPCBs/PCCs), there are total of 6,09,886 industries in India. Out of which, 5,44,364 industries are operational. Among these operational industries, 23,981 industries were found non-complying with environmental standards, against which actions by SPCBs/PCCs (Closure Directions: 3600; Show Cause Notices: 13718; legal cases filed: 229; and Directives: 6434) were taken as per the provisions of the environmental laws. (b) Steps taken by the Government for prevention and control of water pollution are given below-  The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), in coordination with SPCBs/PCCs, currently monitors water quality at 4,922 locations across the country, including 2,265 river locations.  The CPCB has identified polluted river stretches based on the water quality data for rivers with respect to Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) parameter. BOD concentration exceeding 3 mg/l is identified as polluted stretches. The PRS are classified under Priority Class I to V, Priority I being most polluted with BOD value of more than 30 mg/l and Priority V least polluted with BOD ranging between 3 – 6 mg/l.  Based on the identified PRS and for the rejuvenation of these PRS all State Governments and UT Administrations have formed River Rejuvenation Committees (RRCs) of the concerned states/ UTs; the RRC functions under the overall supervision and coordination of the Principal Secretary, Environment. The RRCs are responsible for developing action plans for the rejuvenation of the PRS identified by CPCB for their respective states/ UTs. The action plans including Industrial pollution control were prepared for bringing the water quality of polluted river stretches to the quality level fit for bathing purposes (i.e. BOD ˂ 3 mg/L). Progress of implementation of action plans are reviewed by the RRC at State level and Central Monitoring Committee (CMC) constituted under the Chairmanship of Secretary, Ministry of Jal Shakti at Central Level.  Govt. of India enacted the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 and notified different Rules, Regulations based on the said acts to implement various Schemes for protection and development of water bodies.  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 industrial effluents, are required to comply with the stipulated standards before discharging into rivers and water bodies.  CPCB, State Pollution Control Boards (SPCB)/Pollution Control Committees (PCCs) monitor industries to ensure compliance of the provisions of the said Acts and take necessary action accordingly. CPCB issued indicative Guidelines for restoration of water bodies’ as a guidance to the Stakeholders for ensuring restoration/ rejuvenation of water bodies.  Government of India stipulated General discharge standards and industry specific effluent discharge standards under Environment (Protection) Rules, 1986 with an aim to prevent pollution in the water bodies. (c) Under the provisions of Chapter VII of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, and Chapter III of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, the penalties are prescribed for polluting rivers and other water bodies. (d) The action taken against industries for polluting major rivers in the country during the last five years, river and State/UT-wise with particular reference to rivers flowing through the State of Bihar, is submitted as follows: Closure directions issued by the SPCBs against non-compliant Grossly Polluting Industries (GPIs) were enforced through the respective District Administrations in coordination with the concerned authorities, and the details of such GPIs located along the river Ganga and its tributaries during the past five years, including those in the State of Bihar, are as follows: State 2019 2020 2022 2023 2024 Bihar 9 2 3 5 7 Jharkhand 1 0 0 0 0 Uttar Pradesh 118 176 166 230 3 Uttarakhand 2 4 6 2 80 West Bengal 1 5 3 2 8 Total 131 187 178 239 98 Note: Annual inspections for year 2021 shifted to 2022 due to Covid-19 pandemic situation Further, as per the information received from SPCBs/PCCs, there are total 4,498 GPIs in the country. Out of which, 3,637 industries are operational. Among these operational industries, 601 industries were found non-complying with environmental standards, against which actions by SPCBs/PCCs (Closure Directions: 29; Show Cause Notices: 571; Directives: 1) were taken as per the provision of the environmental laws .*****