Parliament Question: Sustainable Development and Environmental Protection

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5911 TO BE ANSWERED ON 30.03.2026 Sustainable Development and Environmental Protection 5911. SHRI ZIA UR REHMAN: Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state: (a) whether the Government has undertaken any study regarding industrial waste management, river pollution and stubble burning impact in Western Uttar Pradesh; (b) if so, the details of corrective measures, monitoring systems and penalties imposed to address environmental degradation in the region; (c) whether similar environmental compliance issues are being faced in other States; and (d) if so, the details of national action plans implemented to ensure sustainable development and environmental protection across the country? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH) (a) to (d): The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) regulate air and water quality by enactment of Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 and Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 and notified different Rules, Regulations based on the said acts to control industrial pollution. As per the provisions of these Acts, all industrial units and other establishments generating industrial effluents and/or emission are required to comply with the stipulated standards before discharging into the environment. Government monitors the industrial waste management and river pollution in the country including Western Uttar Pradesh through different measures like consent mechanism, environmental clearance, stipulating emission standards, by mandating installation of monitoring equipment’s and through inspections. Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) conducts detailed study for such industrial units and other establishments and on the basis of such studies environmental standard are notified. CPCB has issued directions to all 17 Categories of Industries, Grossly Polluting Industries (GPIs) and Common Facilities to install Online Continuous Effluent Monitoring System (OCEMS) with real time data connectivity to CPCB/SPCBs for self-monitoring. OCEMS in 1377 industries and common facilities has been installed and connected in Uttar Pradesh. OCEMS data is available in public domain and can be accessed at https://rtdms.cpcb.gov.in/data (for live data) and https://rtdms.cpcb.gov.in/publicdata (for historical data).National Water Quality Monitoring Programme (NWMP) is an initiative by CPCB to regularly assess the quality of water bodies across India under which the water quality of rivers, lakes, groundwater, and coastal waters are monitored at various locations. Water Quality for various parameters is assessed as per Guidelines for Water Quality Monitoring, 2017 issued by MoEF&CC. CPCB at present monitors water quality of aquatic resources in the country in association with the State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs)/ Pollution Control Committees (PCCs) at 4922 locations including 2265 locations on Rivers under NWMP which include monitoring locations at Amroha, Ghaziabad, Meerut, Moradabad, Muzaffarnagar districts in Western Uttar Pradesh. Monitoring of STPs is carried out by CPCB for 49 STPs located in 12 districts of Uttar Pradesh. At present, out of 49 STPs, 41 STPs were found operational, having a designed capacity of 1423.09 MLD which include districts of western Uttar Pradesh like Bijnor (01 STP), Bulandshahr (06 STP), Bareilly (4 STP) and Hapur (02 STP). Government of India constituted Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas (CAQM) in 2021 to coordinate, monitor and take necessary action to control air pollution in Delhi NCR. Crop residue burning has been identified as one of the significant factors in North India, including NCR region of Western Uttar Pradesh, which aggravates the air quality index in the region during winter season after harvest of the preceding crop for sowing the next crop. The active fire events due to crop residue burning are monitored using satellite remote sensing, following the "Standard Protocol for Estimation of Crop Residue Burning Fire Events using Satellite Data by Consortium for Research on Agroecosystem Monitoring and Modeling from Space (CREAMS) Laboratory, Division of Agricultural Physics, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) - Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi. The said standard protocol was developed by Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), and CAQM. Farmers are facilitated with alternative measures like in-situ crop residue management, ex-situ utilization of paddy straw in various applications. The in-situ crop residue management includes in-situ mulching / incorporation of the paddy residue in the field itself through efficient and affordable mechanized means / crop residue management machinery. To address air pollution caused due to paddy stubble burning and to subsidize machinery required for management of crop residue, a Central Sector Scheme on Crop Residue Management (CRM) has been implemented by Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare w.e.f. 2018-19. Under this Scheme, during the period from 2018-19 to 2025-26 (as on 10.03.2026), Rs. 4237.47 crores have been released, out of which Rs. 868.67 Cr. have been released to Uttar Pradesh. CPCB has framed Guidelines for grant of one-time financial support under Environment Protection Charge funds for establishment of pelletization and Torrefaction plants to promote utilization of paddy straw. 31 Flying Squads from CPCB have been deployed during harvesting season i.e. from 01.10.2025 to 30.11.2025 in identified hotspot districts in Punjab and Haryana to closely monitor the actions and coordinate with the concerned authorities / officers at the district level, officers of the Pollution Control Boards/CAQM cell. These teams provide daily updates, photographic evidence, and compliance status. To ensure sustainable development and environmental protection across the country the different initiatives taken by the Government is enclosed at Annexure I.Annexure I Measures taken by the Government for sustainable development and environmental protection across the country i. For rejuvenation of polluted river stretches, action plans were prepared by River Rejuvenation Committees (RRC’s) constituted by the respective State Government/UT Administration, under the overall supervision and coordination of Principal Secretary, Environment Department of the concerned State/ Union Territory. Progress of implementation of action plans is reviewed by the RRC’s at State Level and by Central Monitoring Committee (CMC) constituted under the Chairmanship of Secretary, Ministry of Jal Shakti at Central Level. ii. Measures such as mandatory installation of effluent treatment plants, monitoring of sewage treatment plants, inspection of grossly polluting industries, online continuous effluent monitoring systems, and sector-specific pollution reduction charters have contributed to reduced industrial effluent discharge and pollution load, particularly in major rivers like the Ganga and Yamuna. iii. CPCB has also mandated installation of Online Continuous Effluent/Emission Monitoring Systems (OCEMS) in 17 categories of industries and common waste management/treatment facilities to strengthen environmental surveillance and ensure continuous compliance of environmental norms. CPCB also carries out surprise inspection-cum-monitoring of 17 categories industries and common waste treatment facilities, which are selected randomly based on SMS alerts, generated through OCEMS, installed in these industries. iv. CAQM has issued directions to all the Coal based Thermal Power Plants located within 300 Kms radius of Delhi to co-fire biomass based pellets, torrefied pellets/ briquettes (upto 5-10%) with coal to promote use of biomass. MoEFCC through notification dated 11.07.2023, as amended, notified Environment (Utilisation of Crop Residue by Thermal Power Plants) Rules, 2023 mandating minimum five per cent blend of pellets or briquettes made of crop residue along with coal by the Thermal Power Plants in the NCR and Adjoining Areas, failing which said Rules stipulates certain amount of Environmental Compensation against the Thermal Power Plants, as per unit of electricity generated. v. Through extensive research, ICAR has developed Pusa Decomposer, a microbial consortium of fungal species (in liquid, capsule and powder forms) for rapid decomposition of paddy straw. Use of this consortium accelerates process of paddy straw decomposition in the field itself in 20-25 days. vi. National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) has been launched by Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) in January 2019 as a national level strategy with an aim to improve air quality in 130 cities (non-attainment cities and Million Plus Cities) in 24 States by engaging all stakeholders. City Action Plans (CAPs) have been prepared by all 130 cities and being implemented by Urban Local Bodies. The city specific clean air action plans target city specific air polluting sources like Soil & Road Dust, Vehicles, Domestic Fuel, MSW Burning, Construction Material and Industries. Performance based financial support is being provided to these130 cities for implementation of activities of City Action Plan. vii. In addition to this, NCAP emphasizes mobilization of resources through the convergence of resources from various Central Government schemes such as Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban), AMRUT, Smart City Mission, PM e-Bus Sewa, PM E- DRIVE, SATAT, and Nagar Van Yojana, as well as resources from State Govts./ UT administration and agencies like Municipal Corporations and Urban Developmentauthorities. Various Ministries/Departments of Govt. of India provide funding under their Schemes/ Programmes as per their budgets. viii. The MoEFCC has launched a number of afforestation schemes/programmes namely, the Green India Mission (GIM), Nagar Van Yojana (NVY), School Nursery Yojana (SNY), the Eco-Development Forces (EDF) scheme, and funds under the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA), etc. Additionally, the 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam campaign, launched on 5th June 2024, has the objectives of halting and reversing land degradation and preventing desertification, among others. Community-based greening and soil and moisture conservation efforts are encouraged across all States/UTs under these existing schemes. These plantation programmes incorporate the soil & moisture conservation measures. ix. Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has notified regulations on market based Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) framework in respect of waste categories of plastic packaging waste, battery waste, e-waste, waste tyres, used oil, end- of-life vehicles, construction and demolition waste, scrap of non-ferrous metals for the environmentally sound management of wastes and promote circular economy. x. Mission LiFE- Lifestyle for Environment is a global initiative launched by the Government in October, 2022 aimed at fostering sustainable lifestyles through mindful and deliberate consumption to protect the environment. It is a citizen-led initiative that focuses on inspiring and enabling individuals to adopt sustainable lifestyles through every day voluntary actions. It aims to nudge individuals and communities to practice a lifestyle that is synchronous with nature. The initiative focuses on seven core themes: saving water, conserving energy, reducing waste, managing e-waste, eliminating single-use plastics, promoting sustainable food systems, and adopting healthy lifestyles. xi. In partnership with Department of School Education & Literacy, the E-Waste Awareness and Reduction Campaign was organized in 13 cities across Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh engaged 70,000 students in 632 government schools through 65 virtual workshops and school-based collection drives, resulting in the safe recycling of 4,950 kg of e-waste. xii. MoEF&CC has organized beach cleaning campaigns in collaboration with Coastal State Governments covering more than 80 beaches in the last 3 years to sensitize the coastal communities and beach users. These campaigns have seen active participation from the students of nearby schools and colleges, NCC and NSC cadets, Coast Guard personnel, NGOs/CSOs (Civil Society Organisations) and Public representatives and general public. xiii. Parallelly, efforts have been made to conserve wetlands under the Ramsar Convention, with India designating 98 Ramsar sites to protect biodiversity, support migratory birds, and ensure ecological balance. Ramsar site designation also promotes public awareness, environmental education, and community participation through information dissemination, capacity‑building programmes, and stakeholder engagement aimed at ensuring the wise and sustainable use of wetlands xiv. Ministry of Jal Shakti launched ‘Catch the Rain’ campaign under Jal Shakti Abhiyan to build nationwide awareness and nurturing collective action on water conservation, strengthening the message that every drop counts. It encourages citizens across the country to contribute to the preservation of India’s water future through practical measures and community-level engagement. Five focused interventions of the campaign include (i) water conservation and rainwaterharvesting; (ii) identification, geo-tagging, and preparation of an inventory of all water bodies, along with scientific planning for water conservation; (iii) setting up Jal Shakti Kendras in all districts; (iv) concentrated afforestation; and (v) awareness generation. *****