150 Polluted Stretches Across Rivers: Need For Prompt Action
150 Polluted Stretches Across Rivers: Need For Prompt Action
Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar has informed the LS that there are currently 150 polluted stretches across various rivers which have been identified by the government. The government has also disclosed that 42 rivers are now covered by National River Conservation Plan/NRCP and the National Ganga River Basin Authority/NGRBA in around 199 towns across 21 states.
The sanctioned cost for this project is Rs. 10716.45 crore. What is equally important is that the sanctioned money be disbursed properly for its intended purpose. Hopefully, there are mechanisms in place to prevent the misuse of funds allocated for this purpose. Around Rs.5097.50 crore has been released by the Centre to state governments till the end of March for the implementation of the pollution alleviation schemes.
Javadekar has noted that 1193 schemes out of 1430 sanctioned schemes have been finished under NRCP and NGRBA. The Central Pollution Control Board/CPCB has identified 150 polluting stretches for various countries in India based on Bio-Chemical Oxygen Demand/BOD levels which indicates the level of organic pollution. There are about 27 states where such stretches are present.
Around 3.266 highly polluting industries including power plants have been identified by the CPCB. Of these, 2,328 industries have complied with prescribed standards. Around 571 are non-complying and 367 have been closed, according to a statement given by Javadekar at the Lower House.
For now, the NRCP and NGRBA have created sewage treatment capacity of 4957.98 million litres per day. The state governments have received funds for sewage treatment plants in many towns under schemes such as the Jawaharlal Nehru Ubran Renewal Mission and the Urban Infrastructure Development Scheme for Small and Medium Towns.
Javadekar has indicated that 18 public complaints have been received by the CPCB regarding release of industrial effluents between 2012 to 2013. At the rate things are going now, apart from complaints, fervent requests by environmentalists should also be heeded.
All industries have to comply with 102 industry-specific environmental standards and ensure that they are following pollution control measures under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act 1974 and Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act 1981.
What is also needed right now are more deterrents for non-complying industries. The point where pollution has reached massive levels has been crossed. Rivers are polluted beyond the point where mere punitive measures would have sufficed. What is now needed are more public-private partnerships so that awareness and proactive measures are in place. Perhaps companies could draw a leaf out of the IBM-Chinese government initiative to monitor industrial pollution levels.
