Executive Summary:
This document presents the Government of India's response to a parliamentary question regarding pollution levels of rivers in Gujarat. It details the polluted river stretches identified by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the sources of pollution, and the initiatives undertaken to address the issue, including financial allocations and long-term policies. The report references data from 2022 and activities over the last five years.
Key Points / Main Content:
Pollution Levels in Gujarat Rivers:
* The CPCB identified 13 polluted river stretches in Gujarat in 2022 based on Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) levels.
* The most polluted stretches, categorized under Priority-I, include Amlakhadi, Bhadar, Dhadar, Khari, and Sabarmati rivers.
* The Sabarmati River, from Raysan to Vautha, recorded the highest BOD level at 292.0 milligram/litre.
Sources of Pollution:
* Primary sources include untreated or partially treated sewage, industrial effluents, solid waste dumping, and agricultural runoff.
* Rapid urbanization and industrialization exacerbate the pollution challenges.
Government Initiatives:
* The Namami Gange Program focuses on the rejuvenation of the Ganga River and its tributaries.
* The National River Conservation Plan (NRCP) supports States/UTs in conserving other rivers.
* Pollution abatement schemes for Sabarmati, Tapi, and Mindhola rivers were sanctioned, creating a sewage treatment capacity of 697 MLD.
Financial Allocation and Expenditure:
* A total of Rs. 1875.29 crore was allocated for river cleaning projects in Gujarat.
* Rs. 559.56 crore from the central share was released in the last five years for these projects.
State Government Efforts:
* Gujarat has created a sewage treatment capacity of 6105 MLD against a sewage generation of 4414 MLD.
* Water polluting industries have effluent treatment plants or are connected to common effluent treatment plants.
Long-Term Policies and Programs:
* Schemes like AMRUT, Smart Cities Mission, and Swachh Bharat Mission Urban aim to improve sewerage infrastructure and water quality.
* States/UTs must implement action plans for restoring polluted river stretches, as per National Green Tribunal orders.
Impact Analysis:
Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB):
* Impact: Its pollution assessment report serves as the basis for identifying polluted river stretches.
* Action Required: Continue monitoring and reporting on river water quality.
State Government of Gujarat:
* Impact: Responsible for ensuring sewage and industrial effluent treatment and implementing river cleaning projects.
* Action Required: Continue creating and augmenting sewage treatment capacity, enforce effluent treatment standards for industries, and implement action plans for river restoration.
Ministry of Jal Shakti:
* Impact: Oversees and funds river conservation programs and initiatives.
* Action Required: Continue implementing and monitoring the Namami Gange Program and NRCP, and provide financial support to states for river cleaning projects.
Local Bodies:
* Impact: Responsible for managing sewage and solid waste, which are major sources of river pollution.
* Action Required: Improve sewage and solid waste management practices to reduce pollution discharge into rivers.
Industries:
* Impact: Contribute to river pollution through industrial effluent discharge.
* Action Required: Ensure proper treatment of industrial effluents before discharge, either through individual or common effluent treatment plants.
Citizens of Gujarat:
* Impact: Directly impacted by the water quality of the rivers.
* Action Required: Support initiatives to reduce pollution in rivers.
Key Entities Referenced
Gujarat: A state in India where river pollution levels are being assessed.
Namami Gange Mission: A program initiative by the Government of India for the rejuvenation, protection, and management of the river Ganga and its tributaries.
Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB): An organization that published a report in 2022 on pollution assessment of rivers in the country.
Sabarmati River: A river in Gujarat for which pollution abatement schemes were sanctioned.
Tapi River: A river in Gujarat for which pollution abatement schemes were sanctioned.
Mindhola River: A river in Gujarat for which pollution abatement schemes were sanctioned.
National River Conservation Plan (NRCP): A scheme under implementation to supplement efforts of the States/UTs on cost sharing basis for the conservation of rivers and tributaries in the country.
Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT): A scheme under the aegis of Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs aimed at creating and/or augmenting sewerage infrastructure in identified towns, thus improving water quality of rivers and other water bodies.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI
DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT & GANGA REJUVENATION
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2048
ANSWERED ON 31.07.2025
POLLUTION LEVELS OF RIVERS IN GUJARAT
2048. SHRI MUKESHKUMAR CHANDRAKAANT DALAL
Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government has any comprehensive data on the pollution levels of rivers in Gujarat and
if so, the details thereof indicating the most severely affected rivers in the State;
(b) the details of the primary sources of pollution in Gujarat’s rivers along with the efforts being made
to tackle 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
Gujarat under programmes like Namami Gange Mission and other State-level efforts;
(d) the total financial allocation made for river cleaning projects in Gujarat and the actual expenditure
incurred during the last five years; and
(e) the details of the long-term policies formulated/being formulated to check and prevent further river
pollution and ensure sustainable water resources keeping in view the rapid urbanisation and
industrialisation in Gujarat?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI
(SHRI RAJ BHUSHAN CHOUDHARY)
(a) As per the report published by Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) in 2022 on pollution
assessment of rivers in the country based on water quality monitoring results in terms of Bio-chemical
Oxygen Demand (BOD - An indicator of organic pollution), 13 stretches were identified polluted in the
State of Gujarat, with the details as below: -
S. No. River Polluted River Stretch/Location Maximum BOD Priority
Observed
(milligram/litre)
1 Amlakhadi Along Ankleshwar 49.0 I
2 Bhadar Along Jetpur 258.6 I
3 Dhadar Along Kothada 33.0 I
4 Khari Along Lali Village 195.0 I
5 Sabarmati Raysan to Vautha 292.0 I
6 Vishwamitri Along Khalipur Village 38.0 I
7 Mindhola Along Sachin 28.0 II
8 Mahi Kotna to Mujpur 12.0 III
19 Shedhi Along Kheda 6.2 IV
10 Bhogavo Along Surendranagar 6.0 V
11 Bhukhi Khadi Along Vagra 3.9 V
12 Damanganga Along Kachigaon and Along Chanod 5.3 V
13 Tapi Along Nizhar 3.4 V
Out of total identified stretches in Gujarat, polluted river stretches categorized under Priority-I are
the most polluted.
(b) to (e) 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, agricultural run-off, problems in operation and maintenance of sewage/effluent treatment plants,
lack of dilution and other non-point sources of pollution. Rapid urbanization and industrialization have
compounded the challenges.
It is the primary responsibility of States/Union Territories and local bodies to ensure required
treatment of sewage and industrial effluents, before discharging into recipient water bodies or land for
prevention and control of pollution therein. This Ministry is implementing Namami Gange Program for
rejuvenation, protection and management of river Ganga and its tributaries. For conservation of other
rivers/tributaries in the country, the scheme of National River Conservation Plan (NRCP) is under
implementation to supplement efforts of the States/UTs on cost sharing basis.
Based on the proposals received, pollution abatement schemes for conservation of Sabarmati, Tapi
and Mindhola rivers in Gujarat were sanctioned at a total cost of Rs.1875.29 crore and sewage treatment
capacity of 697 million litres per day (MLD) was created. Out of Central share, an amount of Rs.559.56
crore was released during last 5 years for implementation of these projects.
The State Government of Gujarat has informed that sewage treatment capacity of 6105 MLD has
been created in the State against total sewage generation of 4414 MLD in order to prevent and control of
pollution in rivers due to municipal discharges. Also, to check pollution in rivers due to discharge of
industrial effluents, water polluting units are either having their own effluent treatment plants or
connected to common effluent treatment plants.
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 which are aimed at creating and/or augmenting sewerage infrastructure in
identified towns and thus improving water quality of rivers and other water bodies, sanitation systems
and water management in those towns.
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.
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