**Summary:**
The Ministry of Jal Shakti, through the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), has been monitoring and reporting on polluted river stretches (PRSs) in India since 2009. The latest CPCB report, published in November 2022, identifies 311 PRSs on 279 rivers across 30 States/Union Territories. This represents a decrease from the 351 PRSs identified in 2018. Further, 106 PRSs have been delisted, and water quality improvement has been observed in 74 stretches compared to the 2018 report.
The National Water Quality Monitoring Programme (NWMP), which includes manual sampling and Real-Time Water Quality Monitoring Stations (RTWQMS), plays a crucial role in tracking and managing river water pollution. CPCB, in collaboration with State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs) and Pollution Control Committees (PCCs), has established a National Water Quality Monitoring Network (NWMP) to assess water quality and facilitate pollution prevention. Currently, CPCB monitors water quality at 4736 locations nationwide, including 2155 locations on 645 rivers. The Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) monitors 252 locations, including 156 on 57 rivers.
To ensure data transparency and accuracy, water samples are analyzed according to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) guidelines (2017) and tested in National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL) accredited labs. CPCB conducts annual audits of NWMP monitoring locations through its Regional Directorates, and State Board laboratories participate in CPCB's Analytical Quality Control (AQC) program. Water quality data is publicly available on the CPCB website: https://cpcb.nic.in/nwmpdata.
This information was provided by THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI SHRI RAJ BHUSHAN CHOUDHARY in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha today.
Key Entities Referenced
Central Pollution Control Board: A government organization (CPCB) responsible for monitoring and regulating pollution, playing a central role in identifying and managing polluted river stretches.
Polluted River Stretches: Refers to sections of rivers identified by the CPCB as having poor water quality based on monitoring data. Identifying and managing these stretches is the primary focus of the document.
National Water Quality Monitoring Programme: A program (NWMP) under which manual sampling of water is conducted to gather data on water quality across the country.
Ganga Basin: A river basin in India where Real-Time Water Quality Monitoring Stations (RTWQMS) are used to track and manage river water pollution.
State Pollution Control Boards: State-level agencies (SPCBs) that collaborate with the CPCB to assess and manage water quality within their respective states.
Union Territories: Areas governed by the central government of India, where Pollution Control Committees (PCCs) work with the CPCB on water quality management.
National Water Quality Monitoring Network: A network (NWMP) established by CPCB in collaboration with SPCBs and PCCs to regularly assess the status of water quality of water resources.
Maharashtra: A state in India mentioned in the context of river pollution status, where the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) monitors water quality.
Ministry of Jal Shakti
POLLUTED RIVER STRETCHES IDENTIFIED BY
CPCB
Posted On: 11 AUG 2025 3:27PM by PIB Delhi
Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) initiated the exercise of identifying Polluted River Stretches (PRS)
in the country since 2009 based on the river water quality monitored during the past years on periodic basis.
So far, CPCB has published 4 such periodic reports in the year 2009, 2015, 2018 and 2022. As per the latest
information available on the PRS report published by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) in
November 2022, 311 polluted river stretches were identified on 279 rivers in 30 States/Union Territories.
The number of PRSs has decreased from 351 identified in the year 2018 to 311 in the year 2022. Further, 106
PRSs have been delisted and improvement in water quality of 74 polluted river stretches have been observed
in 2022 as compared to the report published in 2018. The state-wise status of river pollution throughout the
country, including Maharashtra is available at:
https://cpcb.nic.in/openpdffile.php?id=UmVwb3J0RmlsZXMvMTQ5NF8xNjcxNzc3ODg2X21lZGlhcGhvd
G8xODc0Ni5wZGY=
The existing water quality monitoring mechanisms, comprising both manual sampling under the National
Water Quality Monitoring Programme (NWMP) and Real-Time Water Quality Monitoring Stations
(RTWQMS) in Ganga Basin have played a significant role in tracking and managing river water pollution
across the country. As per the CPCB, water quality data is obtained from the manual water quality monitoring
carried out under NWMP and it is utilized for identification of PRS. Further, these stations help us in
assessing the polluted river stretches and preparation of action plans for these stretches.
CPCB in collaboration with State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs) in the States and Pollution Control
Committees (PCCs) in Union Territories has established a National Water Quality Monitoring Network
(NWMP) in order to regularly assess status of water quality of water resources to facilitate prevention and
control of pollution in water bodies. CPCB at present monitors water quality of aquatic resources at 4736
locations across the country which includes 2155 locations on 645 rivers. Maharashtra Pollution Control
Board (MPCB) monitors water quality of aquatic resources at 252 locations which includes 156 locations on
57 rivers.
In order to ensure transparency and accuracy of data the following measures are taken:
Water samples are analyzed for Surface water & groundwater parameters as per Guidelines for Water
(cid:108)
Quality Monitoring, 2017 issued by Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC).
Water samples are tested in National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories
(cid:108)
(NABL) accredited labs to ensure accuracy.
Auditing of monitoring locations under NWMP is annually carried out by CPCB through its Regional
(cid:108)
Directorates.
State Board laboratories participate in the Analytical Quality Control (AQC) carried out by CPCB for
(cid:108)
proficiency testing.
The water quality data is posted on CPCB website at https://cpcb.nic.in/nwmp-data/.
(cid:108)
This information was provided by THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI SHRI RAJ BHUSHAN
CHOUDHARY in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha today.
******MAM/SMP/NM
(Rajya Sabha US Q2487)
(Release ID: 2155023)