Executive Summary:
This document is a response to a parliamentary question regarding river pollution levels in Andhra Pradesh, primary pollution sources, government initiatives for cleaning and rejuvenation, financial allocations, and long-term policies for sustainable water resource management. It references a Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) report from November 2022 and outlines various national programs and projects aimed at addressing river pollution. The State Government of Andhra Pradesh is required to implement action plans for river restoration within stipulated timelines as per National Green Tribunal orders.
Key Points / Main Content:
Pollution Levels in Andhra Pradesh:
* The CPCB's November 2022 report details polluted river stretches in Andhra Pradesh:
* Vasishta River (Narasapuram): Maximum BOD of 58 mg/L (Priority I).
* Gostani River (village Vendra): Maximum BOD of 8.6 mg/L (Priority IV).
* Upputeru River (Chinagollapalem): Maximum BOD of 3.4 mg/L (Priority V).
Sources of River Pollution:
* Primary sources include untreated or partially treated sewage, industrial effluents, solid waste dumping, agricultural runoff, and operational issues with treatment plants.
Government Initiatives:
* Namami Gange Program and National River Conservation Plan (NRCP) are in place for river conservation.
* Schemes like Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT), Smart Cities Mission, and Swachh Bharat Mission Urban aim to improve water quality and sanitation.
* A project for pollution abatement of the Godavari River at Rajamahendravaram was sanctioned in March 2022 under NRCP, with a cost of Rs. 88.43 crore.
Financial Allocation:
* Rs. 28.26 crore has been released to the Andhra Pradesh government in the last 5 years for the Godavari River project.
Long-Term Policies:
* Cleaning and rejuvenation of rivers is a continuous process.
* States/UTs must implement action plans for river restoration as per National Green Tribunal (NGT) orders in Original Application No. 673/2018.
Impact Analysis:
State Government of Andhra Pradesh:
* Impact: Responsible for ensuring sewage and industrial effluent treatment before discharge. Implementation of action plans for river restoration within stipulated timelines as per NGT orders.
* Action Required: Implement and monitor action plans for restoration of polluted river stretches and ensure proper treatment of sewage and industrial effluents.
Local Bodies in Andhra Pradesh:
* Impact: Responsible for the operation and maintenance of sewage/effluent treatment plants and solid waste management.
* Action Required: Ensure effective operation of treatment plants and manage solid waste to prevent river pollution.
Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs:
* Impact: Overseeing schemes like AMRUT, Smart Cities Mission, and Swachh Bharat Mission Urban.
* Action Required: Continue implementing and monitoring the mentioned schemes to improve water quality and sanitation in urban areas.
Central Pollution Control Board:
* Impact: Responsible for assessing pollution levels and providing data on polluted river stretches.
* Action Required: Continue to monitor and report on pollution levels of rivers in the country.
Key Entities Referenced
Andhra Pradesh: A state in India, focus of the question regarding river pollution levels.
Central Pollution Control Board: An organization that published a report on pollution assessment of rivers in the country, mentioned in the response.
Vasishta River: A polluted river in Andhra Pradesh, specifically along Narasapuram.
Gostani River: A polluted river in Andhra Pradesh, specifically along village Vendra.
Upputeru River: A polluted river in Andhra Pradesh, specifically along Chinagollapalem.
Namami Gange Program: A program for rejuvenation, protection and management of river Ganga and its tributaries.
National River Conservation Plan (NRCP): A plan for conservation of rivers in the country, other than Ganga and its tributaries.
Godavari River: A river for which a pollution abatement and conservation project was sanctioned at Rajamahendravaram in Andhra Pradesh under NRCP.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI
DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT & GANGA REJUVENATION
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 889
ANSWERED ON 24.07.2025
POLLUTION LEVELS OF RIVERS IN ANDHRA PRADESH
889. DR. D. PURANDESWARI
Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government has comprehensive data on the pollution levels of rivers in Andhra Pradesh
and if so, the details thereof along with the names of the most severely affected rivers in the State;
(b) the primary sources of river pollution in Andhra Pradesh and the efforts being made to address
industrial waste, sewage discharge and plastic pollution in these water bodies;
(c) the specific initiatives undertaken by the Government to clean and rejuvenate polluted rivers in Andhra
Pradesh;
(d) the total financial allocation made for river cleaning projects in Andhra Pradesh and the actual
expenditure incurred during the last five years; and
(e) the details of the long-term policies being formulated by the Government to prevent further river
pollution and ensure sustainable water resource management keeping in view the rapid urbanization and
industrialization in Andhra Pradesh?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI
(SHRI RAJ BHUSHAN CHOUDHARY)
(a) to (e) As per the Central Pollution Control Board report on pollution assessment of rivers in the
country, published in November, 2022, the details of polluted river stretches in the State of Andhra Pradesh
are as below:-
S. River Polluted River Maximum Bio-chemical Oxygen Demand Priority
No. Stretch/Location (BOD) observed
(in milligram per litre)
1 Vasishta Along Narasapuram 58 I
2 Gostani Along village Vendra 8.6 IV
3 Upputeru Along Chinagollapalem 3.4 V
Rivers in the country are polluted mainly due to discharge of untreated or partially treated sewage
from cities/towns and industrial effluents in their respective catchments, dumping of solid wastes,
1agricultural run-off, problems in operation and maintenance of sewage/effluent treatment plants, lack of
dilution and other non-point sources of pollution.
It is the primary responsibility of States/Union Territories and local bodies to ensure required
treatment of sewage and industrial effluent, before discharging into recipient water bodies or land for
prevention and control of pollution therein. Namami Gange Program for rejuvenation, protection and
management of river Ganga and its tributaries, and National River Conservation Plan (NRCP) for
conservation of other rivers in the country have been undertaken. The schemes of Atal Mission for
Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT), Smart Cities Mission and Swachh Bharat Mission -
Urban under the aegis of Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs are also being implemented in identified
towns, which are aimed at improving water quality of rivers and other water bodies, sanitation systems and
water management in different towns.
Under NRCP, the project for pollution abatement and conservation of river Godavari at
Rajamahendravaram in Andhra Pradesh, was sanctioned in March, 2022 at a cost of Rs.88.43 crore. During
last 5 years, an amount of Rs.28.26 crore has been released to the State Government of Andhra Pradesh for
implementation of the project.
Cleaning/rejuvenation of rivers is a continuous and dynamic process. In compliance of the orders of
National Green Tribunal in Original Application No.673/2018 regarding polluted river stretches in the
country, States/UTs are required to implement action plans for restoration of the said stretches in their
jurisdiction within the stipulated timelines.
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