Executive Summary:
This document addresses a question raised in Lok Sabha regarding the pollution of agricultural land by industrial waste in Western Uttar Pradesh, including Muzaffarnagar. It outlines the government's awareness, actions taken by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board (UPPCB) concerning industrial effluent discharge, and the lack of compensation for barren land. The document also mentions watershed projects sanctioned to maintain land fertility. Data from 2024 inspections of Grossly Polluting Industries (GPIs) are included.
Key Points / Main Content:
Industrial Pollution Awareness and Monitoring:
* The Uttar Pradesh Government has not conducted a survey of agricultural land polluted by industrial waste in Muzaffarnagar district.
* Industries are obligated to install Effluent Treatment Plants (ETPs) to treat effluent before discharge, as per CPCB.
* The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has notified standards for emission/discharge of pollutants from industries under Environment Protection Rules, 1986.
* CPCB conducts annual inspections of Grossly Polluting Industries (GPIs) in Ganga and Yamuna river basin states. GPIs are those with potential to discharge ≥100 kg/day BOD load and/or toxic effluents.
Inspection Results and Actions (2024):
* 1465 GPIs were inspected in Western Uttar Pradesh.
* 347 GPIs were found non-compliant with discharge norms or lacking valid consent to operate.
* UPPCB issued show cause notices to 340 non-compliant GPIs and closure directions to 7 GPIs.
* Annexure I provides a district-wise breakdown of GPIs inspected and actions taken.
Compensation and Land Fertility Programs:
* There is no provision for compensation for agricultural land rendered barren due to pollution.
* The Department of Land Resources has sanctioned 56 Watershed projects covering 2.64 lakh hectares in Uttar Pradesh under the Watershed Development Component of Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sichayee Yojna to maintain land fertility.
Impact Analysis:
Farmers in Western Uttar Pradesh:
Impact: Farmers in areas affected by industrial pollution may experience reduced land fertility and crop yields. They are not eligible for compensation for barren land, but may benefit from watershed development projects.
Action Required: No direct action required, but farmers may benefit from engaging with watershed development programs and reporting instances of industrial pollution to relevant authorities.
Industries (GPIs) in Western Uttar Pradesh:
Impact: Industries are subject to inspection by CPCB and UPPCB. Non-compliant industries face show cause notices and potential closure.
Action Required: Industries must ensure compliance with effluent discharge norms, maintain valid consent to operate, and install/maintain effective ETPs.
Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board (UPPCB):
Impact: UPPCB is responsible for monitoring industrial pollution, issuing notices and closure directions to non-compliant industries.
Action Required: Continue conducting inspections, issuing show cause notices, and enforcing closure directions for non-compliant GPIs.
Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB):
Impact: CPCB coordinates annual inspections of GPIs and provides technical expertise.
Action Required: Continue organizing annual inspections of GPIs in Ganga and Yamuna river basin states.
Key Entities Referenced
Uttar Pradesh: A state in India, specifically mentioned in relation to agricultural land pollution and watershed projects.
Muzaffarnagar district, Uttar Pradesh: A district within Uttar Pradesh, highlighted as an area where agricultural land is allegedly polluted by industrial waste.
Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB): A governmental organization responsible for monitoring and regulating pollution, mentioned in the context of industrial effluent treatment.
Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC): A ministry of the Government of India that has notified standards for emission or discharge of environmental pollutants.
Environment Protection Rules, 1986: The legal framework under which the MoEFCC has notified standards for environmental pollutants.
river Ganga: One of the major rivers in India, subject to monitoring for pollution from Grossly Polluting Industries.
Yamuna: Another major river in India, also subject to monitoring for pollution from Grossly Polluting Industries.
Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sichayee Yojna: A government scheme under which watershed projects have been sanctioned in Uttar Pradesh to maintain land fertility and conserve soil.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE & FARMERS’ WELFARE
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE & FARMERS’ WELFARE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3695
TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 12TH AUGUST, 2025
PROTECTION OF AGRICULTURAL LAND
3695. SHRI HARENDRA SINGH MALIK:
Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS’ WELFARE कृ िष एवं िकसान क(cid:670)ाण मं(cid:361)ी
be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government is aware that major chunk of agricultural land is getting polluted
by industrial waste in the western Uttar Pradesh including Muzaffarnagar district,
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the Government has any scheme to compensate the farmers whose land has
become barren/infertile due to industrial waste in Uttar Pradesh particularly in Muzaffarnagar
district;
(d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor, and
(e) the other steps being taken by the Government in this regard?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
कृ िष एवं िकसान क(cid:670)ाण रा(cid:475) मं(cid:361)ी (SHRI RAMNATH THAKUR)
(a) & (b): As per the information received from the Uttar Pradesh Government, no
survey of agricultural land polluted by industrial waste has been conducted in Muzaffarnagar
district. However, Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) informed that it is obligatory on
the part of industries to install effluent treatment plants (ETP) to provide adequate treatment
to effluent before discharging. The Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change
(MoEF&CC), Government of India has notified “Standards for Emission or Discharge of
Environmental Pollutants from various Industries” under Schedule-I of the Environment
Protection Rules, 1986. CPCB organizes annual inspection of Grossly Polluting Industries
(GPIs) operating in river Ganga and Yamuna main stem States of Uttarakhand, Haryana,
NCT-Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal having potential to discharge
into river Ganga, Yamuna & their tributaries by joint teams of officials from technical
institutes like IITs, NITs and State Pollution Control Boards/Committee (SPCBs/PCC). It
may be noted that GPIs are industries having potential to discharge 100 kg/day BOD load
and/or toxic effluents.
During annual inspections 2024, 1465 GPIs in Western UP were inspected out of
which 347 were found non-complying w.r.t discharge norms or not having valid consent to
operate. Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board issued show cause notices to 340 non-
complying GPIs and closure directions to 07 GPIs. District wise number of GPIs in Western
Uttar Pradesh inspected during 2024 and action taken is given as Annexure-I.
(c) to (e): There is no provision for compensation of agricultural land that has got barren.
However, in order to maintain land fertility and conserve soil, Department of Land Resources
has sanctioned 56 Watershed projects covering 2.64 lakh hectares in Uttar Pradesh under
Watershed Development Component of Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sichayee Yojna.Annexure-I
District wise number of GPIs in Western Uttar Pradesh inspected during 2024 and action
taken
S.No. District No of GPIs Non-Complying Action taken
1 Saharanpur 48 8 SCN-8
2 Muzaffarnagar 66 6 SCN-6
3 Shamli 8 0 0
4 Meerut 55 2 SCN-2
5 Baghpat 9 1 SCN-1
6 Ghaziabad 416 77 SCN-66, Closure-1
7 Gautam Buddha 137 63 SCN-60, Closure-3
Nagar
8 Hapur 110 23 SCN-22, Closure-1
9 Bulandshahr 102 22 SCN-22
10 Moradabad 142 54 SCN-54
11 Bijnor 27 3 SCN-3
12 Amroha 21 0 0
13 Sambhal 8 1 SCN-1
14 Rampur 10 0 0
15 Agra 4 1 SCN-1
16 Mahtura 117 20 SCN-20
17 Firozabad 8 2 SCN-2
18 Mainpuri 1 0 0
19 Aligarh 70 37 SCN-35, Closure-2
20 Etah 7 4 SCN-4
21 Hathras 21 12 SCN-12
22 Kasganj 3 0 0
23 Bareilly 38 5 SCN-5
24 Badaun 8 2 SCN-2
25 Pilibhit 7 0 0
26 Shahjahanpur 22 4 SCN-4
SCN stands ‘show cause notices’
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