Organic pollution is the top cause for water pollution
Experts raised concerns about the discharge of untreated industrial waste water.
By : DC Correspondent
Update: 2015-12-18 19:20 GMT
New Delhi: Organic pollution is the predominant cause of water pollution across 2,500 locations which were monitored across the country, the government today said. Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar in a written reply in Lok Sabha said that the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) in association with state boards and committees is monitoring the quality of water bodies at 2,500 locations across the country under National Water Quality Monitoring Programme (NWQMP).
"The monitoring results indicate that organic pollution is the predominant cause of water pollution. Based on the magnitude of organic pollution, CPCB in 2008 identified 150 polluted river stretches which increased to 302 in 2015. "The river stretches are polluted mainly due to discharge of untreated or partially treated water and discharge of industrial waste water," the Minister said. He said that CPCB assessed the total volume of municipal wastewater generation in the country at about 61,948 MLD as against the installed sewage treatment capacity of 23,277 MLD, leaving a wide gap of more than 38,671 MLD.
Replying to another question, he said that the CPCB has issued directions under section 5 of Environment Protection Act 1986 in October to the local body authorities of 118 cities and towns located on the main step of Ganga directing them not to dispose untreated sewage water into the river and set up STPs and provide sewerage system to cover entire local area.
"CPCB has also issued directions in March 2015 under section 18(1) (b) of Water Act (Prevention and Control of Pollution) 1974 to 5 Ganga basin state pollution control boards for implementation of action plan from industries covering pulp and paper, distilleries, sugar, tanneries and others for achieving Zero Liquid Discharge Standards," he said.