**Executive Summary**
This document presents the Indian government's response to an unstarred question regarding the pollution levels and funds utilized for cleaning the Ganga River in Varanasi since 2014. The report, answered on February 5, 2026, details pollution levels based on CPCB monitoring and provides a breakdown of expenditure under the Namami Gange Programme until January 19, 2026.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Pollution Monitoring:**
* The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) monitors the Ganga River's pollution status through 112 water quality monitoring stations.
* The rivers are classified into five priority classes based on BOD (Biochemical Oxygen Demand) concentration, ranging from Priority I (>30 mg/L, most polluted) to Priority V (3-6 mg/L, least polluted).
* Varanasi water quality, as per CPCB's PRS assessment:
* 2015: Priority-III (10-20 mg/L)
* 2018: Priority-IV (6-10 mg/L)
* 2022: Priority-V (3-6 mg/L)
* 2025: Priority-V (3-6 mg/L)
* **Funding and Implementation (Namami Gange Programme):**
* Funds disbursed for projects/interventions in Varanasi under the Namami Gange Programme to the following agencies:
* State Mission for Clean Ganga: Setting up and maintenance of sewerage infrastructure.
* Concessionaires of STP Project at Varanasi (Hybrid Annuity Mode): Setting up and maintenance of sewerage infrastructure.
* Varanasi Nagar Nigam: Cleaning of ghats & river surface through trash skimmer.
* Indian Institute of Technology Varanasi: Smart Laboratory on Clean Rivers.
* National Mission for Clean Ganga: Removal of pollutants from drains through installation of advanced oxidation process.
* Year-wise expenditure in Varanasi (in Cr.):
* 2014: 0.00
* 2015: 170.16
* 2016: 82.98
* 2017: 125.93
* 2018: 139.59
* 2019: 37.05
* 2020: 70.79
* 2021: 60.01
* 2022: 62.64
* 2023: 13.71
* 2024: 17.36
* 2025: 77.16
* Total Expenditure: 857.38
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: State Mission for Clean Ganga, Concessionaires of STP Project at Varanasi (Hybrid Annuity Mode), Varanasi Nagar Nigam, Indian Institute of Technology Varanasi, National Mission for Clean Ganga**
**Impact**
They receive funds and are responsible for implementing and maintaining projects under the Namami Gange Programme.
**Action Required**
Continue to implement and maintain the projects/interventions according to the program's goals.
**Stakeholder: General Public/Citizens of Varanasi**
**Impact**
Potentially affected by the pollution levels of the Ganga River and the effectiveness of the cleaning initiatives.
**Action Required**
No direct action is stated in the document, but the document provides an update on the current status.
Key Entities Referenced
Namami Gange Programme: A program aimed at cleaning and rejuvenating the Ganga River.
Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB): The organization responsible for monitoring the pollution status of the River Ganga and classifying rivers by priority class based on water quality.
Ministry of Jal Shakti: The ministry responsible for answering questions about the pollution level in the Ganga River.
Varanasi: The location of the Ganga River where the pollution levels and funds utilized for cleaning are being inquired about.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI
DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT & GANGA REJUVENATION
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1136
ANSWERED ON 05.02.2026
POLLUTION LEVEL IN GANGA RIVER IN VARANASI
1136. Smt. SATABDI ROY:
Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:
(a) the details of the pollution level in the Ganga River in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh since 2014, year-wise;
and
(b) the details of the funds utilised for cleaning the stretch of the river in and around Varanasi since 2014,
year-wise?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI
(SHRI RAJ BHUSHAN CHOUDHARY)
(a) The pollution status of the River Ganga is monitored by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)
through 112 water quality monitoring stations.The rivers are classified into five priority classes by CPCB as
follows;
Priority Class BOD Concentration Range (mg/L)
Priority I > 30 (most polluted)
Priority II 20 – 30
Priority III 10 – 20
Priority IV 6 – 10
Priority V 3 – 6 (least polluted)
As per CPCB’s PRS assessment reports, the observed water quality in Varanasi are as follows:
PRS Assessment Report Year Priority Class
2015 Priority–III
2018 Priority–IV
2022 Priority–V
2025 Priority–V
1(b) Funds have been disbursed to the following agencies in the state of Uttar Pradesh, for implementation
of projects/interventions in Varanasi under the Namami Gange Programme since its inception (FY 2014-15)
till 19 January 2026:
Implementing Agencies Purpose
State Mission for Clean Ganga Setting up and maintenance of sewerage
infrastructures
Concessionaires of STP Project at Varanasi Setting up and maintenance of sewerage
implemented in Hybrid Annuity Mode infrastructures
Varanasi Nagar Nigam Cleaning of ghats &
Cleaning of river surface through trash
skimmer at Varanasi
Indian Institute of Technology Varanasi Smart Laboratory on Clean Rivers
National Mission for Clean Ganga Removal of pollutants from drains through
installation of advanced oxidation process
Further, the year-wise expenditure in Varanasi since 2014, for activities indicated above, as provided
by the State Mission for Clean Ganga-Uttar Pradesh, is given below:
Year Year-wise expenditure (in Cr. )
2014 0.00
2015 170.16
2016 82.98
2017 125.93
2018 139.59
2019 37.05
2020 70.79
2021 60.01
2022 62.64
2023 13.71
2024 17.36
2025 77.16
Total 857.38
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