On 22 December, 2017, three
MPs namely, Bhartruhari Mahtab, Rahul Ramesh Shewale and Sanjay Shamrao Dhotre asked
an unstarred question regarding surface water pollution from the Union Minister of
Environment, Forests and Climate Change in the Lok Sabha: (a) whether the
Government has made any assessment/ conducted any study to ascertain the
pollution level of surface water in the country;
(b) if so, the details
and the outcome thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
(c) whether an
International Organisation viz., Water Aid has given any remarks regarding
pollution level of India’s surface water in the recent past and if so, the
details thereof along with the reaction of the Government thereto;
(d) whether the
Government proposes any comprehensive policy to deal with water pollution in
the country and if so, the details thereof with the time by which it is likely
to be implemented in the country; and
(e) the other steps
taken/being taken by the Government to keep a check on water pollution in the
country?
The Minister of State
In the Ministry Of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Dr. Mahesh Sharma
replied, “Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), State Pollution Control
Boards (SPCBs) and Pollution Control Committees are monitoring river water
quality at 1275 locations which indicate that there are 302 polluted river
stretches, which is primarily due to discharge of untreated municipal sewage
and industrial effluent.
Water Aid has not under
taken any independent assessment of surface water pollution in India and its
report is based on assessment of CPCB and other organizations.
Government has taken a
number of steps to control river pollution which include control of industrial
pollution under the provisions of Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution),
Act, 1974; river action plans for interception, diversion and treatment of
sewage; establishment of continuous water quality monitoring systems; directions
to the SPCBs under Section 18(1)(b) of the Water (Prevention & Control of
Pollution) Act,1974 to direct concerned agencies in the State/UT to develop
infrastructure for sewage treatment; consent management for compliance of
standards by SPCBs/PCCs to improve water quality of the rivers with respect to
industrial effluents; directions under Section 5 of the Environment
(Protection) Act, 1986 regarding treatment and utilization of sewage for restoration
of water quality of rivers.
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