16-Dec-2021: Release of wastes into rivers

Rivers in the country are polluted mainly due to discharge of untreated and partially treated sewage from cities/towns and industrial effluents.

According to Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), there are 2836 Grossly Polluting Industries (GPIs) in the country which are discharging their effluents in various water bodies. Out of total 2836 industries, 2180 industries are operational and 656 industries are self-closed. The number of complying and non-complying units are 2053 and 127 respectively. Action taken against the non-complying units includes issue of show-cause notices to 52 units, issue of closure directions to 56 units and filing of legal cases against 2 units.

As per the Provisions of Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 and Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution), Act 1974, industrial units are required to install effluent treatment plants (ETPs) and treat their effluents to comply with stipulated environmental standards before discharging into river and water bodies. Accordingly, CPCB, State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs) and Pollution Control Committees (PCCs) monitor industries with respect to effluent discharge standards and take action for non-compliance under provisions of these Acts.

Steps taken by the Government to stop discharge of industrial effluents into rivers, inter-alia include issuance of notification of specific discharge standards, revision of the criteria for categorization of industries and issuing directions to all SPCBs/PCCs to adopt the same, issuance of consent to establish/consent to operate by the SPCBs/PCCs, regular and surprise inspections of GPIs for compliance verification against stipulated environmental norms, installation of Online Continuous Effluent Monitoring System (OCEMS) for assessment of effluent quality and compliance status. In addition, the industries are encouraged to reduce their waste water generation by technological advancement, reuse/recycle of wastewater and maintain Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) where ever possible.

Besides, in compliance of the orders of National Green Tribunal (NGT) in Original Application No.673/2018 regarding rejuvenation of polluted river stretches in the country, States/UTs are required to implement approved action plans for restoration of the polluted stretches in their jurisdiction as identified by CPCB and published in their report of 2018, within the stipulated timelines. As per the orders of NGT, regular review on implementation of action plans is undertaken in the States/UTs and also at Central level.

9-Dec-2021: Heavy Metal in Rivers
Rivers in the country are polluted and contaminated mainly due to discharge of untreated and partially treated sewage from cities/towns and industrial effluents in their respective catchments. Non-point source of pollution like erosion, transportation and sedimentation of rocks, soils, agriculture runoff, open defecation and runoff from solid waste dumping sites, etc. also contribute to pollution of river. Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) in association with State Pollution Control Boards/Committees in different States/Union Territories (UTs) have been monitoring water quality of rivers and other water bodies, across the country through a network of 4294 monitoring stations under the National Water Quality Monitoring Programme. The monitoring is conducted and samples analyzed for various physico-chemical, micro- biological and micro-pollutants (metals & pesticides) parameters as per Guidelines for Water Quality Monitoring, 2017 issued by Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MoEF&CC).

The trace metals attached to sediment particles are migrated and dispersed in the flood plains due to annual flushing of streams and rivers. Other sources of metals in rivers are primarily industrial activities. The concentration range of various heavy metals such as Arsenic (Ar), Cadmium (Cd), Copper (Cu), Lead (Pb), Chromium (Cr), Nickel (Ni), Zinc (Zn), Mercury (Hg), Iron (Fe) and Manganese (Mn) are observed in major rivers of the country during the year 2020. CPCB have also informed that at present no limits have been prescribed under Primary Water Quality Criteria for Bathing Waters notified under the Environment Protection Act, 1986 by MoEF&CC to check presence of heavy metals in rivers beyond permissible limits.

Cleaning/rejuvenation of rivers is an ongoing activity. It is the responsibility of the States/UTs and local bodies to ensure required treatment of sewage and industrial effluents to the prescribed norms before discharging into river and other water bodies, coastal waters or land to prevent and control of pollution therein. For conservation of rivers, this Ministry has been supplementing the efforts of States/UTs by providing financial and technical assistance for abatement of pollution in identified stretches of rivers in the country through the Central Sector Scheme of Namami Gange for rivers in Ganga basin and the Centrally Sponsored Scheme of National River Conservation Plan (NRCP) for other rivers.

NRCP has so far covered polluted stretches on 34 rivers in 77 towns spread over 16 States in the country with the project sanctioned cost of Rs.5961.75 crore, and inter-alia, a sewage treatment capacity of 2677.03 MLD (million litres per day) has been created. Under the Namami Gange programme, a total of 353 projects, including 157 projects for sewage treatment of 4952 MLD and sewer network of 5212 kms., have been sanctioned at a cost of Rs.30458 crore.

In addition, sewerage infrastructure is created under programs like Atal Mission for Rejuvenation & Urban Transformation (AMRUT) and Smart Cities Mission of Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs.

As per the Provisions of Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 and Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution), Act 1974, industrial units are required to install effluent treatment plants (ETPs) and treat their effluents to comply with stipulated environmental standards before discharging into river and water bodies. Accordingly, CPCB, State Pollution Control Boards/Pollution Control Committees monitor industries with respect to effluent discharge standards and take action for non-compliance under provisions of these Acts.

Besides, in compliance of the orders of National Green Tribunal (NGT) in Original Application No.673/2018 regarding rejuvenation of polluted river stretches in the country, States/UTs are required to implement approved action plans for restoration of the polluted stretches in their jurisdiction as identified by CPCB and published in their report of 2018, within the stipulated timelines. As per the orders of NGT, regular review on implementation of action plans is undertaken in the States/UTs and also at Central level.

11-Apr-2019: NGT forms Central Monitoring Committee to prepare national plan for polluted rivers

The NGT has formed a Central Monitoring Committee to prepare and enforce a national plan to make over 350 river stretches across the country pollution free as it has caused serious threat to safety of water and environment. A bench headed by Nation Green Tribunal (NGT) Chairperson Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel said the committee would comprise a representative of NITI Aayog; secretaries of Ministry of Water Resources, Ministry of Urban Development and Ministry of Environment; the director general of National Mission for Clean Ganga and the Central Pollution Control Board chairman.

The Central Monitoring Committee will also co-ordinate with the River Rejuvenation Committees of the states and oversee the execution of the action plans, taking into account the timelines, budgetary mechanism and other factors. Chief secretaries of states will be the nodal agency at state level.

The chief secretaries of the states may undertake review of progress of RRCs by involving concerned secretaries of Department of Urban Development, Environment, Industries, Irrigation and Public Health, Health etc..

The tribunal also directed the Ministry of Environment to consider a policy for giving environmental awards to outstanding persons (natural and juristic) and institutions or states and introducing "dis-incentives" for non-compliant states and asked it to frame such scheme before June 30.

First meeting of the Central Monitoring Committee may be held by June 30. The Central Monitoring Committee may consider identifying experts, best practices and models for use of treated water, including plan to supply untreated sewage for a price or otherwise so that the concerned needy party can treat and utilise such water as is reportedly being done at Surat in Gujarat, Nagpur in Maharashtra and Bhilwada in Rajasthan or any other place. Use of treated water for agriculture or other purpose may save potable surface and ground water.

The NGT directed the Central Monitoring Committee to give its report by July 31.

 NGT directs the CPCB and state pollution control boards to launch nationwide programme on biodiversity monitoring and indexing of the rivers to assess the efficacy of river cleaning programme. Further, for safety of human health and maintaining sanctity of the rivers, regular hygienic surveys of the rivers should be carried out with reference to fecal coliform and fecal streptococci, as indicated in the primary water quality criteria for bathing waters.

The tribunal noted that due to use of polluted water in irrigation, there is threat to the health of human beings apart from the aquatic flora and fauna. It is therefore necessary to have regular hygienic survey of the rivers particularly with reference to pathogenic organisms having impact on human health directly or indirectly. It is also important to note that biological health of the rivers is an important aspect. Much of the important biodiversity is lost on account of severe pollution in the rivers.

There has to be a regular study of the Indian rivers with regard to biological heath and its diversity. We understand that bio-mapping of rivers and setting biological goals/criteria is part of River Rejuvenation Programmes in some countries. There is threat to the environmental rule of law of the country.

17-Mar-2019: River Periyar turns black again

After a short gap, river Periyar turned black again near Pathalam regulator cum bridge on Saturday. Fish were also found dead.

The river was found flowing in different colours from Saturday morning. Pungent odour was also emanating from the river. Fish started to die from the morning which indicates that presence of dissolved oxygen in the river has depleted. The discharge of effluents from industrial units changed the colour of the polluted river.

Pollution Control Board officials visited the site and took samples. PCB engineer said that the river turned black due to some anaerobic action due to depletion of dissolved oxygen level. Though the river turned black no fish kill was reported. The discolouration and foul smell was due to stagnation of water. The water level receded drastically and the river is not flowing.

The PCB official added that a report has been submitted to the district collector. A request will be submitted to the collector urging him to instruct Irrigation department to open shutters of the Pathalam regulator cum bridge to reduce the pollution level and to ensure flow of river water.

Discolouration of Periyar waters and fish kill has been a serious issue for last couple of years. Decrease in dissolved oxygen level has caused fish-kills more than 25 times in the past two years.