Namami Gange Programme, Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) is carrying out studies for water quality assessment of the River

2645 SHRIMATI RANJANBEN DHANANJAY BHATT

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:-

(a) whether the Government is able to check pollution under ‘Namami Gange Programme’;

(b) if so, whether the Government has taken any step in this regard, so far; and

(c) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

(a) Under the Namami Gange Programme, Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) is carrying out studies for water quality assessment of the River Ganga at 97 locations in 5 main stem States through the respective State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs). River water quality is assessed for primary water quality criteria notified for outdoor bathing.

Based on the water quality assessment by CPCB in 5 Ganga main stem states in 2022 (January to September), the observed water quality indicates that median value of Dissolved Oxygen which is an indicator of river health has been found to be within acceptable limits of notified primary bathing water quality criteria and satisfactory to support the ecosystem of river for almost entire stretch of river Ganga. The median value of Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) has been found within the acceptable limits except marginal exceedance (BOD: 3.3 to 4.7 mg/L) in locations/stretches viz. stretch from (i) Kannauj U/s to Kala Kankar, Rai Bareilly & D/s Mirzapur to Tarighat, Ghazipur (except U/s Varanasi, Assighat) in Uttar Pradesh and (ii) at Shitalatala, Palta in West Bengal.

Further, as a result of multi sectoral interventions, as per comparison of median data of water quality parameters viz., DO and Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD), Faecal Coliforms (FC) of year 2014 and 2022 (January to September); DO (Median) has improved at 33 locations, BOD (Median) has improved at 40 locations and FC (Median) has improved at 28 locations, respectively. Improvement in water quality has led to the increased sightings of aquatic species such as Gangetic Dolphins (now seen in wider reaches, where it was not seen earlier), otters, turtles, Hilsa etc.

(b) & (c) National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) is undertaking various measures under the Namami Gange Programme (NGP) for pollution abatement of river Ganga.

• Under NGP, a total of 406 projects have been taken up at an estimated cost of Rs.32,897.83 crore. Out of these, 224 projects have been completed while remaining are at different stages of implementation. The projects taken up under NGP includes 176 sewerage infrastructure projects with a sanctioned cost of Rs.26,263 Crore for creation & rehabilitation of 5,270 Million Litres per Day (MLD) of Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) capacity and laying of 5,214 KM sewerage network. Out of these, 98 sewerage projects have been completed resulting in creation & rehabilitation of 1,858 MLD of STP capacity and laying of 4,204 KM sewerage network.
• Around 4507 Ganga Grams have been declared as ODF.
• State Governments are implementing Action Plans drawn by State River Rejuvenation Committees for restoration of water quality of the identified polluted river stretches. The implementation is being monitored regularly at State level by Chief Secretary of the respective State/UT and at Central level by the Central Monitoring Committee under the Chairmanship of Secretary, Ministry of Jal Shakti.
• Industries are facilitated through Charter based participatory approach for reduction in water consumption, effluent generation and pollution load by adoption of cleaner technologies & waste minimization practices. Stringent monitoring and regulation of industries and pollution sources is being undertaken. Inventorisation of Grossly Polluting Industries (GPIs) along river Ganga with annual inspection of all GPIs is carried out through team from expert institutions of repute.
• River surface cleaning activities were also taken up under Namami Gange scheme by deploying of trash skimmer at 11 locations for a period of 3 years. Besides, drains out falling into Ganga have been provided with wire net mesh/ trash rack at their mouths (or 1 km from their outfall) to arrest the direct outfall of solid waste into river.
• The guidelines for Swachh Bharat Mission Grameen Phase II, proposes and ensures execution of focused attention to Solid and Liquid waste management along with Ganga Grams. The States are required to ensure that the villages situated on the banks of river Ganga are prioritized for implementation of Solid Liquid Waste Management (SLWM) interventions.
• Construction of 20 MLD Common Effluent Treatment Plan (CETP) for Jajmau tannery cluster Kanpur, largest of its type in the country, for pollution abatement in River Ganga to address long- standing challenge posed to river Ganga due to pollution from tannery cluster in Jajmau area is under progress. Similarly, up-gradation of other CETPs have been sanctioned in the tannery clusters of Unnao & Banther as well as that for 6.25 MLD textile cluster at Mathura is under final stage of commissioning.

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