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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