Parliament Question: Release of Toxic Wastewater into Kolak and Daman Ganga River

OIH GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2543 TO BE ANSWERED ON 09.03.2026 Release of Toxic Wastewater into Kolak and Daman Ganga River 2543. SHRI PATEL UMESHBHAI BABUBHAI: Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state: (a) whether it is true that various industries are releasing wastewater into rivers without adequate treatment; (b) whether the Government is aware that the waters of the Kolak River and Daman Ganga River have become highly polluted due to release of toxic wastewater from the chemical and pharmaceutical factories in Vapi (Gujarat); (c) whether the Central Pollution Control Board and the Gujarat Pollution Control Board have prepared any inspection reports in this regard, if so, the details thereof; (d) the concrete actions taken/being taken by the Government so far to check this pollution and if not, the reasons therefor; and (e) whether the Government is considering to form a Special Task Force to protect the groundwater of Daman and Dadra & Nagar Haveli, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH) (a) to (e) The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) has notified “Standards for Emission or Discharge of Environmental Pollutants from various Industries” under Schedule-I of the Environment Protection Rules, 1986. So far, 79 industrial specific environmental standards have been notified. The industrial sectors, for which specific standards are not available, general standards as notified under Schedule-VI of the Environment Protection Rules, 1986 are applicable. It is mandated for all the industries to obtain Consent to Establish/Consent to Operate from the respective State Pollution Control Boards/Pollution Control Committee (SPCBs/PCCs) as per the provisions of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981. SPCBs/PCCs ensure the compliance of prescribed standards notified by the MoEF&CC, Government of India. In the Union Territory of Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu, all industries are mandatorily required to ensure adequate treatment of wastewater and to undertake reuse and/or recycling of the treated effluentwithin their respective premises. Discharge or release of effluent into any river is strictly prohibited. Further, CPCB in association with SPCBs/PCCs monitors water quality of aquatic resources at 4922 locations under National Water Quality Monitoring Programme (NWMP) including 16 monitoring locations on River Damanganga and 02 monitoring locations on River Kolak. The water quality data for the monitored locations on River Damanaganga and River Kolak in the year 2024 is enclosed as Annexure-I. CETP Vapi is equipped with Online Continuous Effluent Monitoring Systems (OCEMS). Monthly monitoring of the downstream stretch of River Damanganga at Kachigam Bridge is carried out after the final outlet of CETP. Data from the past year is attached as Annexure-II. The GPCB Regional Office, Vapi, conducts monthly monitoring of River Kolak at Pataliya Bridge. Data from the past year is attached as Annexure-III. To protect the groundwater of Daman and Dadra & Nagar Haveli, Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA) regulates ground water extraction by industrial, infrastructure and mining projects by issuing NOC to such projects as per guidelines notified by Ministry of Jal Shakti vide SO 3289(E), dated 24.09.2020 and amendments thereto vide SO 1509(E), dated 29.03.2023. These guidelines have provisions for prevention of pollution/contamination of groundwater such as following.  Injection of treated/untreated waste water into aquifer system is strictly prohibited.  Industries which are likely to pollute ground water (chemical, pharmaceutical, dyes, pigments, paints, textiles, tannery, pesticides/insecticides, fertilizers, slaughter house, explosives etc.) shall store the harvested rain water in surface storage tanks for use in the industry and not recharge it.  Industries which are likely to cause ground water pollution e.g. Tanning, Slaughter Houses, Dye, Chemical/ Petrochemical, Coal washeries, other hazardous units etc. (as per CPCB list) need to undertake necessary well head protection measures to ensure prevention of ground water pollution.  The NOC issued by CGWA contains following condition.  “The Project Proponent shall take all necessary measures to prevent contamination of groundwater in the premises, failing which the firm shall be responsible for any consequences arising thereupon”.  The guidelines also have provision for penalty of Rs 10, 00,000/- towards ‘Injection of treated/untreated water into the aquifer system’. However, no such case has been reported so far. *****Annexure-I Water quality data for the monitored locations of River Damanganaga in the year 2024 Monitoring Location Dissolved pH BOD Fecal Coliform O2 (mg/L) (mg/L) (MPN/100ml) Min Max Min Max Min Max Min Max Primary Water Quality >5 mg/L 6.5-8.5 < 3 mg/L < 2500 Criteria for Outdoor MPN/100 ML Bathing River Damanganga at 4 7.4 7.34 8.42 1 1 2 13 downstream of Of Madhuban, Daman River Damanganga at 3.2 7.5 7.28 8.12 1 8 11 900 Zari Cause Way Bridge, Daman River Damanganga at 2.5 5.3 7.6 7.99 2.2 9 900 900 discharge point Of Distillery, Daman River Damanganga at 4.1 7.5 7.52 8.1 1 10 110 1600 Daman Jetty, Moti Daman River Damanganga at 5.8 7.4 7.7 8.3 1 3 60 280 Vapi Weir, Vapi, Daman River Damanganga at 5.8 7.5 7.81 8.67 1 4 6 280 Lavacha Temple, Silvassa River Damanganga 5.6 7.5 7.75 8.47 1 2 70 500 downstream of M/s Surat Beverages, Village Dadra, Silvassa River Damanganga at 4.9 7.6 7.79 8.54 1 2 2 50 Naroli Bridge, Silvassa River Damanganga at 1.9 6.9 7.53 7.98 1 6 60 900 Village Namdha, Vapi River Daman Ganga At 2.7 6.3 7.56 7.78 2.2 9.5 9400 540000 Zeri Causeway Bridge, Daman (Gujarat And U/S of Daman, Diu,Dadar & Nagar Haveli And Gujarat) River Damanganga At 6.8 7.2 7.45 8.06 1 1 12 34 Kachigaon U\S At Gidc Wier, River Damanganga at Gidc Wier, River Damanganga At 5.4 7 7.21 8.03 1 1.6 17 94 Kachigaon D\S(Daman),River Damanganga at Kachigaon Bridge River Daman Ganga At 6.5 8 7.2 8.48 1 2.6 68 7900 D/S Of Gidc Weir, Near Nh-48, Vapi, Gujarat (U/S of Daman,Diu,Dadar & Nagar Haveli And Gujarat) Water quality data for the monitored locations of River Kolak in the year 2024 Monitoring Dissolved O2 pH BOD (mg/L) Fecal Location (mg/L) Coliform (MPN/100ml) Min Max Min Max Min Max Min Max Primary Water >5 mg/L 6.5-8.5 < 3 mg/L < 2500 Quality Criteria MPN/100 for Outdoor ML Bathing River Kolak at 5.8 7 7.25 8.09 1 1.4 13 58 Patalia Bridge River Kolak at Railway Bridge 5.8 6.9 7.31 8.08 1 1.5 14 43 No. 313 Vapi, Valsad,Annexure – II Analysis results of water sample collected from River Damanganga downstream at Kachigam bridge, at-Kachigam for period Jan 2025 to Jan 2026 Parameters pH BOD DO Month & year (mg/L) (mg/L) Limit 5.5-9.0 30 4 01/01/2025 7.57 1.5 6.4 03/02/2025 8.17 1.4 6.5 03/03/2025 7.88 1.5 6.4 01/04/2025 7.73 1.5 6.5 02/05/2025 7.16 1.5 6.1 03/06/2025 8.25 1.6 6.7 03/07/2025 7.73 1.3 6.9 05/08/2025 7.86 1 6.9 01/09/2025 7.32 1 6.8 04/10/2025 7.44 1 7 06/11/2025 7.60 1 6.8 02/12/2025 7.28 1.1 6.8 Average 7.7 1.3 6.65 Parameters pH BOD DO Month & year (mg/L) (mg/L) Limit 5.5-9.0 30 4 02/01/2026 7.50 1.1 6.8 Average 7.50 1.1 6.8Annexure – III Analysis results of water sample collected from River Kolak at Patalia Bridge, Patalia Vapi for period Jan 2025 to Jan 2026 Parameters pH BOD DO Month & year (mg/L) (mg/L) Limit 5.5-9.0 30 4 03/01/2025 7.84 1 6.9 01/02/2025 7.45 1.1 6.8 01/03/2025 7.95 1.1 6.9 02/04/2025 7.54 1.6 6 01/05/2025 7.33 1.4 6.5 02/06/2025 7.63 1.5 6.6 02/07/2025 7.58 - 6.9 03/08/2025 7.95 1 6.9 01/09/2025 7.6 1.1 6.8 03/10/2025 7.52 1.2 6.9 04/11/2025 7.62 1.2 6.8 01/12/2025 7.21 1.3 6.9 Average 7.60 1.23 6.74 Parameters pH BOD DO Month & year (mg/L) (mg/L) Limit 5.5-9.0 30 4 01/01/2026 7.81 1.3 6.9 Average 7.81 1.3 6.9