**Executive Summary**
This document, released by the Ministry of Jal Shakti on December 1, 2023, outlines ongoing efforts to rejuvenate and control pollution in rivers across India. It highlights the responsibilities of various entities, including States/UTs, local bodies, and industrial units, and details financial and technical assistance programs. The document also notes the progress made by several States/UTs in decreasing pollution levels in river stretches between 2018 and 2023.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Responsibilities:**
* States/UTs, local bodies, and industrial units are responsible for proper treatment of sewage and industrial effluents before discharge into water bodies.
* **Financial & Technical Assistance Programs:**
* The Department of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation provides financial and technical assistance through:
* Central Sector Scheme Namami Gange (Ganga basin).
* Centrally Sponsored Scheme of the National River Conservation Plan (NRCP) (other rivers).
* Financial assistance is subject to fund availability, NRCP guideline adherence, and State/UT contributions.
* Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT), Smart Cities Mission and Swachh Bharat Mission - Urban focus on improving sewage infrastructure to enhance water quality.
* **Regulatory Compliance & Monitoring:**
* Under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 and the Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, States/UTs/Local Bodies and industrial units must install treatment plants and comply with discharge standards.
* Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs), and Pollution Control Committees (PCCs) monitor compliance and take punitive actions.
* Industries are encouraged to reduce wastewater and maintain Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD).
* **Action Plans & Guidelines:**
* States/UTs are implementing approved action plans for river restoration as per National Green Tribunal (NGT) orders.
* The Ministry of Jal Shakti has issued Technical Guidelines on Flood Plain Zoning.
* **Progress & Monitoring:**
* Several States/UTs have shown decreased pollution in some river stretches (2018-2023). (see document for list)
* The National Mission for Clean Ganga developed a National Framework for Reuse of Treated Waste Water.
* The CPCB, with SPCBs/PCCs, monitors water quality under the National Water Quality Monitoring Program (NWMP).
* River Rejuvenation Committees at state and central levels review the implementation of river restoration plans.
**Impact Analysis**
**States/Union Territories (UTs)**
* **Impact**: Accountable for wastewater treatment and river rejuvenation, can receive financial aid.
* **Action Required**: Ensure compliance with discharge standards, implement action plans, and adhere to NRCP guidelines to secure funding.
**Local Bodies**
* **Impact**: Responsible for sewage treatment and water quality within their jurisdictions.
* **Action Required**: Install and maintain sewage treatment plants and ensure compliance with regulations.
**Industrial Units**
* **Impact**: Mandated to treat industrial effluents and minimize wastewater generation.
* **Action Required**: Install and maintain effluent treatment plants, reduce wastewater through technology, and aim for Zero Liquid Discharge.
**Central and State Pollution Control Boards/Committees**
* **Impact**: Monitor compliance and enforce regulations related to river pollution.
* **Action Required**: Continue to monitor water quality, take action against violators, and support the implementation of river restoration plans.
Key Entities Referenced
Namami Gange: Central Sector Scheme providing financial and technical assistance for river rejuvenation in the Ganga basin.
National River Conservation Plan (NRCP): Centrally Sponsored Scheme providing financial assistance for river rejuvenation for rivers other than Ganga.
Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB): Monitors compliance and takes punitive action against violators of environmental regulations related to water pollution.
Environment (Protection) Act, 1986: Law requiring States/UTs/Local Bodies and industrial units to install sewage and effluent treatment plants and comply with prescribed discharge standards.
Ministry of Jal Shakti: Issues Technical Guidelines on Flood Plain Zoning to States/UTs for regulating development activities in flood-prone areas.
Ministry of Jal Shakti
RIVER REJUVENATION AND POLLUTION
CONTROL
प्रव तथ: 01 DEC 2025 7:15PM by PIB Delhi
Cleaning and rejuvenation of rivers is a continuous process. It is the primary responsibility of the
States/Union Territories (UTs), local bodies and industrial units to ensure proper treatment of sewage and
industrial effluents to prescribed norms before discharge into rivers, other water bodies, coastal waters or
land.
To meet the gap in sewage treatment and industrial pollution management, the Department of Water
Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation provides financial and technical assistance to
States/UTs through the Central Sector Scheme Namami Gange for rivers in the Ganga basin and the
Centrally Sponsored Scheme of the National River Conservation Plan (NRCP) for other rivers. Financial
assistance is provided subject to availability of funds, adherence to NRCP guidelines and commitment of
State/UT share of funds.
Further, the Schemes of Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT), Smart
Cities Mission and Swachh Bharat Mission - Urban under the aegis of Ministry of Housing and Urban
Affairs (MoUHA) are also implemented which are aimed at creating and/or augmenting sewerage
infrastructure in identified towns to bridge gaps of sewage treatment and thus improving water quality of
rivers and other water bodies, sanitation systems and water management in those towns.
Under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 and the Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act,
1974, States/UTs/Local Bodies and industrial units are required to install sewage and effluent treatment
plants and comply with prescribed discharge standards. Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), State
Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs) and Pollution Control Committees (PCCs) monitor compliance and
take punitive action against violators. In addition, the industries are encouraged to reduce their waste
water generation by technological advancement, reuse/recycle of waste water and maintain Zero Liquid
Discharge (ZLD) wherever possible.
Further, in compliance with orders of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) in O.A. No. 673/2018,
States/UTs are implementing approved action plans for restoration of polluted river stretches identified
by CPCB.
The Ministry of Jal Shakti has issued Technical Guidelines on Flood Plain Zoning to States/UTs for
regulating development activities in flood-prone areas and mitigating associated risks.
States/UTs showing decrease in pollution levels of some of the river stretches during the period 2018 to
2023 are Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, Goa, Himachal,
Gujarat, Jammu & Kashmir, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Meghalaya,
Mizoram, Nagaland, Odisha, Puducherry, Punjab, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Tripura, Telangana,
Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, West Bengal.National Mission for Clean Ganga has developed a National Framework for Reuse of Treated Waste
Water that provides guidance to States in developing the State policies on reuse of treated waste water.
Some notable examples of reuse of water are from the States of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh,
Karnataka, Haryana and Tamil Naidu
The CPCB, in association with SPCBs/PCCs, monitors water quality under the National Water Quality
Monitoring Program (NWMP). At present, 4,736 locations of water bodies are monitored across the
country, including 2,155 river locations. Implementation of Restoration Plan of polluted river stretches is
reviewed by River Rejuvenation Committees at the State level and Central Monitoring Committee at the
Central level.
The 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.
***
ND
(Rajya Sabha US Q94)
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