core sector communique

Sources of Pollution in Ganga

The pollution load on rivers including Ganga has increased over the years due to rapid urbanization and industrialization. Abstraction of water for irrigation, drinking, industrial use, power etc. compounds the challenge. Disposal of untreated/partially treated sewage by the cities and towns is the major source of pollution in the river, constituting about 75-80% of the pollution loads by volume. As per Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), 2760 mld (million litres per day) of sewage is generated by the cities and towns along the river. Industrial effluents and other non-point sources of pollution like disposal of dead bodies and animal carcasses, open defecation, cattle wallowing, agricultural runoff etc., add to the pollution loads.

Conservation of rivers is an ongoing and collective effort of the Central and State Governments. The Central Government is implementing the Ganga Action Plan (GAP) for pollution abatement through implementation of works like interception and diversion of sewage, setting up of sewage treatment plants, sanitation facilities etc. Under this Plan, Rs.887 crore has been spent so far and a sewage treatment capacity of 1064 mld has been created. Action is taken by the CPCB and the State Pollution Control Boards under the Environment (Protection) Act 1986 and the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act 1974 against industries not complying with effluent discharge standards.

The Central Government has set up the National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA) in February, 2009 as an empowered authority for conservation of the river Ganga with a river basin approach. The Authority has decided that under Mission Clean Ganga it will be ensured that by 2020 no untreated municipal sewage and industrial effluents flow into Ganga. Pollution abatement schemes worth about Rs.2476 crores have been sanctioned under NGRBA so far. River conservation projects such as creation of civic infrastructure for sewage management and disposal are also being implemented under other central schemes, such as Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission, Urban Infrastructure Development Scheme for Small and Medium Towns, as well as under State sector schemes.

The Minister of State for Environment and Forests (I/C), Shri Jairam Ramesh gave this information in a written reply to a question by Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad and Shri Ramchandra Prasad Singh in Rajya Sabha today.