Parliament Question: Pollution Control, River Rejuvenation and Environmental Governance

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 105 TO BE ANSWERED ON 27.07.2026 Pollution Control, River Rejuvenation and Environmental Governance 105. SHRI JAGDAMBIKA PAL: SHRI PRATAP CHANDRA SARANGI: Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state: (a) the measures taken by the Government under the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), Namami Gange Mission and other flagship initiatives to improve air quality, control water pollution and rejuvenate rivers across the country; (b) the progress made in afforestation, mangrove restoration, wetland conservation and combating plastic pollution during the last three years and the current year; (c) the steps taken to strengthen environmental governance through the PARIVESH portal including faster clearances, improve transparency in environmental clearances and ensure strict enforcement against illegal mining, pollution and encroachments on river ecosystems; (d) whether the Government has identified polluted or ecologically stressed rivers outside the Ganga basin including the Sukhnai River and other environmentally stressed rivers in Uttar Pradesh and if so, the details thereof; and (e) the details of the measures taken or proposed to be taken along with any special assistance provided for restoration, pollution abatement, sewage treatment, desilting, rejuvenation and conservation of the said rivers? ANSWER MINISTER FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI BHUPENDER YADAV) (a) to (e): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House. ****STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (A) TO (E) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 105 DUE FOR REPLY ON 27.07.2026 REGARDING POLLUTION CONTROL, RIVER REJUVENATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL GOVERNANCE ASKED BY SHRI JAGDAMBIKA PAL & SHRI PRATAP CHANDRA SARANGI (a) to (e): To address air pollution in urban areas, National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) was launched in 2019 by the Government in 130 Cities across the country. It is a multi-sectoral initiative involving the coordinated efforts of the Central and State Governments, Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) and other stakeholders. NCAP emphasizes source specific mitigation measures through city, state, and national-level clean air action plans and it is monitored by various committee constituted at Central, State and District level. Air quality performance based incentive grant of ₹ 16423.56 crore has been released to targeted cities under National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) as a critical gap funding to implement air pollution mitigation measures, during FY 2019-20 till 2025-26. To address air pollution in Delhi-NCR, Government has established the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) under the Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas Act, 2021 for better coordination, research, identification and resolution of problems of air pollution in Delhi- NCR and adjoining areas. The focused and coordinated actions by 130 cities under NCAP have shown positive results with 108 cities recorded reductions in annual PM10 concentrations during 2025-26, compared to 2017-18, with 72 cities achieving reductions of more than 20% and 26 cities achieving reductions of more than 40%. Further, 14 cities met the National Ambient Air Quality Standards in FY 2025-26 (Standards ≤ 60 µg/m3), compared to six cities in 2017-18. Ministry of Jal Shakti is implementing the Namami Gange Programme (NGP), launched in 2014-15, as a central sector scheme for the rejuvenation of river Ganga and its tributaries. Under the Namami Gange Programme, a diverse and holistic set of interventions for cleaning and rejuvenation of river Ganga have been taken up, that includes wastewater treatment, riverfront management, ensuring e- flow, rural sanitation, afforestation, biodiversity conservation, public participation. So far, a total of 527 projects have been sanctioned at a cost of ₹43,326 crores. Under National River Conservation Plan (NRCP), Government implements various pollution abatement works relating to interception & diversion of raw sewage, construction of sewerage systems, setting up of sewage treatment plants, low-cost sanitation, river front/bathing ghat development, etc for the rivers of the country except for rivers as part of Ganga Basin. So far, NRCP has covered 58 rivers in 100 towns spread over 17 States in the country at a total sanctioned cost of Rs. 8,975 crores, and sewage treatment capacity of 3,026 million litres per day (MLD) has been created. MoEF&CC provides financial assistance under Centrally Sponsored Scheme namely, National Plan for Conservation of Aquatic Ecosystems (NPCA) for conservation and management of wetlands. An amount of Rs. 70.87 Crores has been released under NPCA for conservation and management of wetlands since 2023-24. MoEF&CC issued a guideline for National Plan for Conservation of Aquatic Ecosystems (NPCA), 2024, that provides guidance to State Government and State Wetland Authorities on integrated and scientific framework forWetlands. India has notified 100 wetlands for conservation under Ramsar Site convention and its Ramsar site network stands first in Asia and third in the world. Further, Ministry has also taken several steps for conservation and management of wetlands in the country which include a dedicated Wetlands Web Portal (https://indianwetlands.in), Mission Sahbhagita and Save Wetlands Campaign for peoples and stakeholders’ participation in the wetlands conservation and management, Amrit Dharohar initiative to promote unique conservation values of Ramsar sites. The NPCA scheme and Amrit Dharohar promotes eco- tourism in and around the wetlands. Government has launched Nagar Van Yojana (NVY) to develop 600 Nagar Vans and 400 Nagar Vatikas in the country during the period of 2020- 21 to 2026-27 with an objective to significantly enhance the tree outside forests, green cover, enhancement of biodiversity and ecological benefits to the urban and peri-urban areas apart from improving quality of life of city dwellers. The Central grants from funds under National Authority of CAMPA are provided under the scheme to cover the cost of fencing, soil-moisture conservation measures & related activities, administrative activities, plantation and maintenance. So far, 652 projects have been sanctioned in 28 States and 3 Union Territories of the country under Nagar Van Yojana at the total cost of Rs. 699.33 Crores. The National Authority CAMPA established under the Compensatory Afforestation Fund (CAF) Act, 2016 approves the annual plan of operations furnished by States and Union Territories containing activities such as Compensatory Afforestation, Assisted Natural Regeneration, Artificial Regeneration and other eco-restoration activities. An amount of Rs. 3,583.64 crore has been approved during last three years for compensatory afforestation, Assisted Natural Regeneration & Artificial Regeneration to States/UTs. National Mission for a Green India (GIM) is one of the nine Missions outlined under the National Action Plan on Climate Change. It aims at protecting, restoring, and enhancing India’s forest cover by undertaking eco-restoration/plantation activities in the forest and non-forest areas through Joint Forest Management Committees (JFMC’s). An amount of Rs. 326.85 Crore have been allocated to fifteen States/UTs for creation of plantation/eco-restoration over an area of 31,114 ha during last 3 years (2023-24 to 2025-26). Mangroves have been classified as Ecologically Sensitive Areas (ESAs) under Coastal Zone Regulation (CRZ) Notification of 2019. ‘Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitats & Tangible Incomes (MISHTI) programme, launched by Government of India to restore and promote mangroves as unique, natural eco- system and for preserving and enhancing the sustainability of the coastal habitats. So far, a total of Rs. 88.44 crore has been released to five States and one Union Territory for the restoration of 9,536 hectares of degraded mangrove areas. Measures to combat plastic pollution include the ban on identified “Single Use Plastic (SUP) items, implementation of the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016 (as amended), enforcement of the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) obligations on producers of plastic packaging and strengthening of plastic waste management through improved collection, segregation, recycling and public awareness. Since implementation of EPR regulations (fromFeb, 2022), 65,241 producers and 3117 plastic waste processors have been registered on EPR portal and an amount of 232.65 lakh Metric Tons of plastic packaging waste has been recycled. The PARIVESH portal is a single-window digital platform for submission and processing of Environment, Forest, Wildlife and Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) clearances and post clearance compliance monitoring across all States and Union Territories. Since its launch in 2019, the PARIVESH portal has fully digitised the clearance process by enabling end-to-end online processing of proposals, encompassing online submission of applications by project proponents, scrutiny of proposals, appraisal by the Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC)/State Expert Appraisal Committee (SEAC), decision-making by the Ministry/State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA). The Government has continuously strengthened and upgraded PARIVESH through technology-enabled reform. These initiatives have enhanced transparency, improved decision-making and facilitated faster processing of proposals As a result of sustained process reforms, digital workflow automation and regular monitoring through PARIVESH, the average time taken for grant of Environmental Clearance at the Central level has been reduced significantly from around 600 days in 2014 to about 57 days in FY 2025-26. Similar improvements are visible at the State level. Department of Mines and Geology of the State Government is the nodal authority for regulation and enforcement of mining activities, including prevention of illegal mining, under the provisions of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957. Matters relating to pollution control and environmental management under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981, and the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 are dealt with by the concerned State Pollution Control Board. The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 and the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981, amended through the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Act, 2023, and the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Amendment Act, 2024, provide for penalty of upto Rs.15 lakh for contravention of provisions of Act or the rules made or orders or directions issued under the Act. Industrial activities, including mining, without valid Consent, are also punishable, as per the extant provisions of Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981. State Pollution Control Boards/Pollution Control Committees monitor the water quality of aquatic resources in line with the criteria/ guidelines of Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) namely, Guidelines on Water Quality Monitoring, 2017. The water quality data is utilized for identification of Polluted River Stretches (PRS) based on the level of organic load which is measured in terms of Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) levels. Comprehensive action plans were prepared for rejuvenation of identified PRS by River Rejuvenation Committees (RRC/s) for making all the polluted river stretches identified by CPCB fit for bathing purposes (i.e. BOD ˂ 3 mg/L and FC ˂ 500 MPN/100 mL). The progress of the implementation of action plans is reviewed by the RRCs at State Level and by Central Monitoring Committee (CMC) constituted under the Chairmanship of Secretary, Ministry of Jal Shakti at Central Level. Polluted River Stretches in the country have progressively reduced from 351 in 2018 to 296 in 2025.Total of 16 polluted river stretches were identified on 14 rivers in Uttar Pradesh. 14 polluted river stretches were identified on 13 rivers other than Ganga in Uttar Pradesh in the year 2025. The details are enclosed as Annexure - I ****Annexure-I PRS identified in Uttar Pradesh on rivers other than Ganga since 2025 Priority S. No. River Polluted river stretch/ location Class RIVER BAHELA AT BADLI VILLAGE LOHIYA 1. BAHELA I BRIDGE , TANDA (U.P.) RIVER KALI EAST AT KHARKHODA-PARIKSHIT 2. KALI EAST I GARH ROAD, VILL. KOL, MEERUT RIVER HINDON FROM SAHARANPUR D/S TO 3. HINDON I NOIDA D/S RIVER KALINADI FROM U/S OF MUZAFFAR 4. KALINADI I NAGAR TO GUMATIYA VILLAGE ,KANNAUJ 5. YAMUNA RIVER YAMUNA FROM ASGARPUR TO MOHENA I 6. YAMUNA RIVER YAMUNA FROM SHAHPUR TO HAMIRPUR II RIVER GOMTI FROM MOHMEAK U/S TO 7. GOMTI III VARANASI RIVER VARUNA FROM B/C WITH GANGA TO 8. VARUNA III RAMESHWAR RIVER GHAGHARA FROM BARHALGANJ TO 9. GHAGHARA IV TURTIPAR,DEORIA D/S RIVER RAPTI A/C HONIN RIVER TO RAJGHAT, 10. RAPTI IV GORAKHPUR 11. RIHAND RIVER RIHAND AT RENUKUT D/S, U.P. V RIVER SARYU AT AYODHYA AT MAIN BATHING 12. SARYU V GHAT, U.P. RIVER BETWA BEFORE CONF. YAMUNA AT 13. BETWA HAMIRPUR TO DOWNSTREAM AT SUKMA- V DUKMA DAM 14. SAI RIVER SAI FROM UNNAO TO JAUNPUR V