Executive Summary:
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change addressed concerns regarding contaminated water release into the Sutlej River and Buddha Nullah, impacting water quality in Rajasthan. Monitoring in April 2024 revealed non-compliance with water quality standards in Buddha Nallah and Firozpur Feeder. Actions include directions issued to the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) and subsequent actions by PPCB to concerned Common Effluent Treatment Plants (CETPs). The document also references ongoing river rejuvenation efforts and infrastructure projects.
Key Points / Main Content:
Water Quality Monitoring:
* A joint monitoring effort by CPCB and PPCB in April 2024 assessed water quality in Buddha Nallah, East Bein, Indira Gandhi Canal, Firozpur feeder canal, and treatment plants in Ludhiana.
* Buddha Nallah and East Bein water quality did not meet the General Standards for Discharge of Environmental Pollutants.
* Indira Gandhi Canal met Class C water quality criteria (Drinking Water Source after conventional treatment), while Firozpur Feeder did not due to high Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD).
Pollution Control Measures:
* CPCB directed PPCB to ensure compliance based on STP and CETP inspections in Ludhiana.
* PPCB issued directions to CETPs under Section 33 A of the Water Prevention and Control of Pollution Act, 1974.
River Rejuvenation Efforts:
* The River Sutlej stretch from Rupnagar to Harike Bridge was identified as a Priority Class I polluted river stretch.
* Action plans are in place for the rejuvenation of 351 polluted river stretches, aiming for BOD of 3 mg/L and FC of 500 MPN/100 mL.
* River Rejuvenation Committees (RRCs) at the State level and a Central Monitoring Committee (CMC) oversee and review the implementation of these plans.
* Plans include municipal sewage and industrial pollution management, waste management, and river catchment/basin management.
Infrastructure and Financial Assistance:
* Cleaning/Rejuvenation of rivers is a continuous process and responsibility of States/UTs and Urban Local Bodies.
* The Ministry of Jal Shakti supports States/UTs through schemes like Namami Gange and the National River Conservation Plan (NRCP).
* Sewerage infrastructure development occurs via programs like AMRUT and the Smart Cities Mission.
Buddha Nallah Rejuvenation Project:
* Two new STPs (285 MLD) established.
* Four old STPs (418 MLD) rejuvenated.
* Two ETPs (6 MLD) for dairy waste management established.
* Three CETPs (105 MLD) for industrial wastewater treatment established in Ludhiana.
Impact Analysis:
State Governments/Union Territories:
* Impact: Responsible for ensuring sewage and industrial effluent treatment before discharge into water bodies, and for implementing and monitoring river rejuvenation action plans.
* Action Required: Continuous monitoring, implementation of treatment processes, and adherence to prescribed norms for effluent discharge.
Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB):
* Impact: Responsible for ensuring compliance of STPs and CETPs with water quality standards and for taking action against non-compliant units.
* Action Required: Enforce directions issued by CPCB, take action against non-compliant CETPs, and monitor the effectiveness of treatment facilities.
Industrial Units and Municipal Bodies of Punjab:
* Impact: Required to treat wastewater before discharge into the Sutlej River and Buddha Nullah to comply with environmental standards.
* Action Required: Ensure proper functioning of STPs and CETPs, comply with PPCB directives, and reduce the release of pollutants into water bodies.
Residents of Sri Ganganagar, Bikaner, Churu, Jhunjhunu, Nagaur, Jodhpur and Barmer of Rajasthan:
* Impact: Affected by the water quality of the Indira Gandhi Feeder and Ferozepur Feeder, which are supplied by the Sutlej River via the Harike Barrage.
* Action Required: No direct action, but may benefit from improved water quality due to pollution control measures.
Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB):
* Impact: Responsible for monitoring water quality, identifying polluted river stretches, and providing directions to State Pollution Control Boards.
* Action Required: Continue monitoring water quality, provide technical assistance to PPCB, and assess the effectiveness of river rejuvenation efforts.
Key Entities Referenced
Sutlej River: A major river in northern India and Pakistan, a key water source affected by pollution from industrial and municipal sources in Punjab.
Buddha Nullah: A seasonal water stream in Punjab, India, heavily polluted by industrial and municipal discharge, contributing to the contamination of the Sutlej River.
Punjab: A state in India, identified as the source of contaminated water released into the Sutlej River and Buddha Nullah.
Rajasthan: A state in India, receiving polluted water via the Indira Gandhi Feeder and Ferozepur Feeder, causing water pollution in several of its districts.
Indira Gandhi Canal: A major irrigation canal in Rajasthan, India, that receives water from the Harike Barrage and is affected by pollutants.
Ferozepur Feeder: A canal that carries water from the Harike Barrage to Ferozepur and other areas; its water quality is affected by pollution.
Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB): A statutory organisation under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, responsible for monitoring and regulating pollution in India.
Water Prevention and Control of Pollution Act, 1974: An act of the Parliament of India to provide for the prevention and control of water pollution and the maintaining or restoring of wholesomeness of water.
OIH
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3992
TO BE ANSWERED ON 18.08.2025
Release of Contaminated Water into Sutlej River
3992. SHRI KULDEEP INDORA:
Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to
state:
(a) whether the release of contaminated water by industrial units and municipal bodies of
Punjab into Sutlej river and Buddha Nullah which results in the polluted water being
supplied to Indira Gandhi Feeder and Ferozepur Feeder through Harike Barrage is
causing severe water pollution in districts like Sri Ganganagar, Bikaner, Churu,
Jhunjhunu, Nagaur, Jodhpur and Barmer of Rajasthan;
(b) if so, the status of action taken, issuance of notices, imposition of penalty, monitoring
and remedial measures by the Pollution Control Board against these units; and
(c) whether the Government has set any timeline for construction of Common Effluent
Treatment Plant (CETP)/Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) under Buddha Nullah
Rejuvenation Project and issued any Standard Operating Procedure (SOP)/ clear
guidelines for supply of pure water in canals of Rajasthan?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND
CLIMATE CHANGE
(SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)
(a) to (c)
CPCB jointly with Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) has monitored the water quality of
Buddha Nallah, East Bein, Indira Gandhi Canal (Rajasthan Canal), Firozpur feeder canal at
Harike Barrage and Sewage Treatment Plants (STP) and Common Effluent Treatment Plants
(CETP) in Ludhiana, Punjab in April, 2024.
Water quality of Buddha Nallah and East Bein was found non- complying with respect to
General Standards for Discharge of Environmental Pollutants prescribed under Schedule-VI of
Environment (Protection) Rules, 1986. The analytical results reveals that water quality of
Indira Gandhi Canal is complying to the ‘C’ class of Water Quality Criteria for Designated
Best Use i.e. Drinking Water Source after conventional treatment and disinfection whereas
water quality of Firozpur Feeder is not complying to the ‘C’ class of Water Quality Criteria
for Designated Best Use with respect to Biochemical Oxygen Demand ( BOD) (BOD 5 mg/L
as against ˂ 3 mg/L or less).Based on the inspection of the STPs and CETPs in Ludhiana, Punjab, CPCB issued directions
to Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) under the Water (Prevention and Control of
Pollution) Act, 1974 for necessary compliance. Subsequently, PPCB has issued the directions
under Section 33 A of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 to concerned
CETPs.
Based on water quality data, 351 Polluted River Stretches (PRS) were identified by CPCB
during the year 2018, out of which, 04 PRS were identified in Punjab State including Polluted
Stretch of River Sutlej from Rupnagar to Harike Bridge under Priority Class I. For rejuvenation
of 351 polluted river stretches identified by CPCB including the polluted stretch of River
Sutlej, action plans were prepared by River Rejuvenation Committee (RRC) constituted by the
respective State Government/ UT Administration, under the overall supervision and
coordination of Principal Secretary, Environment of the concerned State /Union Territory for
bringing all the polluted river stretches identified by CPCB fit for bathing purposes (i.e. BOD
˂ 3 mg/L and FC ˂ 500 MPN/100 mL).
Progress of implementation of action plans are reviewed by the RRC at State Level and Central
Monitoring Committee (CMC) constituted at Ministry of Jal Shakti at Central Level.
The said action plans covers aspects such as Source control (Municipal sewage management,
Industrial pollution control, Waste management), River catchment/Basin Management
(Adoption of good irrigation practices, Utilization of treated sewage, Ground water recharge
aspects), Flood Plain Zone protection and its management (Setting up of bio-diversity parks,
Removal of encroachments, Rain water harvesting, Plantation on both sides of the river),
Ecological/Environmental Flow (E-Flow) and Watershed management.
Cleaning/Rejuvenation of rivers is a continuous process. It is the responsibility of States/Union
Territories (UTs) and Urban Local Bodies to ensure required treatment of sewage and industrial
effluents to the prescribed norms before discharging into the rivers and other water bodies. The
Ministry of Jal Shakti has been supplementing efforts of the States/UTs by providing financial
and technical assistance for abatement of pollution in identified stretches of the rivers in the
country through Central Sector scheme of “Namami Gange” for the rivers in Ganga basin, and
Centrally Sponsored Schemes of National River Conservation Plan (NRCP) for other rivers in
the Country. Apart from this, sewerage infrastructure is created under programs like Atal
Mission for Rejuvenation & Urban Transformation (AMRUT) and Smart Cities Mission of
Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs.
The State Government of Punjab has undertaken Buddha Nallah Rejuvenation project. Under
this project, 2 new STPs of 285 MLD have been established. 4 old STPs of 418 MLD have
been rejuvenated. 2 Effluent Treatment Plants (ETPs) of 6 MLD capacity for management of
dairy waste have also been established. In addition to this, 3 CETPs of 105 MLD for treatment
of industrial waste water have been established at Ludhiana.
***