Ministry of environment, forests and climate change rajya sabha unstarred question n

OIH
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE

RAJYA SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION N0. 341

TO BE ANSWERED ON 26.02.2015

Pollution of rivers Hindon, Krishna and Kali
341. SHRI PRABHAT JHA:
Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Central Pollution Control Board has found that Hindon, Krishna and Kali rivers of Western Uttar Pradesh have become polluted so much due to industrial wastes that the water of these rivers is not fit for drinking purposes of humans as well as cattles, also it has become poisonous for irrigation purposes in agriculture, if so, the details thereof; and
(b) the measures being taken by Government to address it immediately?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR ENVIRONMENT, FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE

(SHRI PRAKASH JAVADEKAR)

(a)&(b) As reported by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the water quality of river Kali and Hindon in the State of Uttar Pradesh is assessed. The assessment of the water quality of river Kali indicates that the river Kali is not meeting the criteria with respect to Dissolved Oxygen, Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD), Total Coliform and Faecal Coliform. The Dissolved Oxygen was nil at downstream Muzzaffar Nagar. The high level of BOD can be attributed to discharge of industrial effluents from large number of pulp and paper mills, distilleries and sugar mills. The river does not have a perennial source at its origin leading to non availability of fresh water. The river receives the municipal sewage a well as industrial effluents from the township of Muzzaffar Nagar and adjoining areas. The water is not fit for drinking purposes after conventional treatment as the source water is grossly polluted.

The assessment of the water quality of river Hindon indicates that the river is not meeting the criteria with respect to Dissolved Oxygen, Conductivity, BOD, Total Coliform and Faecal Coliform. The Dissolved Oxygen as low as 0.4 mg/l has been observed downstream Saharanpur. The high level of BOD can be attributed to discharge of industrial effluents from number of electroplating and tannery units. River Hindon receives the municipal a well as industrial effluents from the township of Saharanpur, Muzaffarnagar, Shamli, Meerut and Baghpat and Gautam Buddhnagar. The water is not fit even for irrigation purposes as the source water is grossly polluted.

Krishna River is one of the tributary of river Hindon which finally merges with river Yamuna. The Krishna River has its confluence with the Hindon River at Barnawa village in Baghpat district. The CPCB has not assessed the water quality and pollution load of river Krishna.
Steps taken to control water pollution include;

• 
  Industrial pollution control measures taken under the provision of Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution), Act, 1974;
  
• 
  A mutually agreed time targeted programme is implemented under Corporate Responsibility on Environment Protection (CREP) on various commitments;
  
• 
  Special Drives: 17 categories of industries with zero liquid discharge, wherever feasible;
  
• 
  Intensive monitoring of industries discharging effluent into rivers and lakes;
  
• 
  Promotion of Common Effluent Treatment Plants (CETP) for cluster of Small Scale Industrial units;
  
• 
  Urban centres discharging wastewater in aquatic resources and having no treatment facilities have been identified and recommended for appropriate action to respective authorities;
  
• 
  Identified urban centres are being considered under various River Action Plans for interception, diversion and development of treatment facilities;
  
• 
  The depletion of flow in the rivers is one of the major factor for water quality degradation. Steps are being taken to augment flow in rivers for ecological consideration and the respective ministries concerned such as Water Resources and Power are being persuaded to provide adequate flow in the rivers so that rivers can attain its ecological balance including desired water quality for various beneficial uses;
  
• 
  With respect to industrial effluents, consent management for compliance of standards is being enforced by SPCBs/PCCs to improve the water quality of the rivers;
  

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