{"id":64782,"date":"2025-09-23T12:10:23","date_gmt":"2025-09-23T06:40:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/?p=64782"},"modified":"2025-09-23T12:10:23","modified_gmt":"2025-09-23T06:40:23","slug":"river-pollution-in-india","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/river-pollution-in-india\/","title":{"rendered":"River Pollution in India &#8211; CPCB Shows Marginal Reduction"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>River Pollution Latest News<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The CPCB\u2019s latest report shows a marginal reduction in polluted river stretches across India, though several rivers, especially in Maharashtra, remain critically contaminated.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Introduction<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Rivers are the lifelines of India, sustaining agriculture, industry, and millions of people.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, unchecked urbanisation, untreated sewage, and industrial effluents have turned several rivers into highly polluted water bodies.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/central-pollution-control-board\/\" target=\"_blank\"><b>Central Pollution Control Board<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (CPCB) regularly monitors river health, measuring <\/span><b>biological oxygen demand<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (BOD) levels to identify polluted stretches.\u00a0<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">BOD\u00a0measures the oxygen consumed by microorganisms to decompose organic matter in water, serving as a key indicator of organic pollution in aquatic ecosystems.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Its latest report indicates a marginal reduction in the number of polluted river stretches across India, though concerns remain about severely contaminated segments.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>River Pollution in India<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">River pollution in India has been a persistent challenge, with most urban centres discharging untreated sewage directly into rivers.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Industrial units, despite regulations, contribute chemical pollutants, while agricultural runoff adds pesticides and fertilisers.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">According to CPCB, <\/span><b>a polluted river stretch is defined as two or more consecutive locations on a river where BOD levels exceed 3 mg\/L<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, rendering water unfit for bathing.<\/span><\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Major Causes<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Untreated sewage<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> &#8211; Cities generate over 72,000 MLD of sewage, of which only about 30% is treated.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Industrial effluents<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> &#8211; Chemical and textile hubs like Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Tamil Nadu release toxic waste.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Agricultural runoff<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> &#8211; Fertilisers and pesticides flow into rivers during monsoons.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Encroachments and sand mining<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> &#8211; These degrade river ecosystems and floodplains.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Impact<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Decline in aquatic biodiversity.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Unsafe drinking and bathing water, leading to waterborne diseases.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Economic loss to fisheries and agriculture.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Social unrest, as seen in protests around rivers like the Yamuna and Ganga.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Ganga, Yamuna, Sabarmati, Godavari, and Musi are among India\u2019s most polluted rivers, with stretches frequently falling into the CPCB\u2019s \u201cPriority I\u201d category, meaning they require immediate remediation.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>News Summary: CPCB\u2019s Latest Findings<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Marginal Improvement<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">According to CPCB\u2019s <\/span><b>2023 report<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, the number of polluted river stretches decreased from <\/span><b>311 to 296<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, covering 271 rivers across 32 states and Union Territories.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Most Affected States<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Maharashtra<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> continues to top the list with <\/span><b>54 polluted stretches<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Kerala (31), Madhya Pradesh and Manipur (18 each), and Karnataka (14) also reported significant pollution.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Priority Classifications<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Priority I<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (BOD &gt; 30 mg\/L) &#8211; 37 stretches, down from 46 in 2022. These include the Yamuna in Delhi, the Sabarmati in Ahmedabad, the Chambal in Madhya Pradesh, and stretches of the Tungabhadra and Sarabanga.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Priority V<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (BOD 3.1\u20136 mg\/L) &#8211; Indicating less polluted stretches needing minimal intervention.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Rivers Showing Deterioration<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Despite marginal progress overall, certain rivers recorded worsening conditions.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These include <\/span><b>Jhelum (J&amp;K), Ganga and Sikrahna (Bihar), Hasdeo and Mahanadi (Chhattisgarh), Cauvery and Tungabhadra (Karnataka), Periyar (Kerala), and Krishna (Telangana)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Long-Term Monitoring<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">CPCB, in collaboration with State Pollution Control Boards, monitors water quality at over <\/span><b>4,700 locations<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> under the National Water Quality Monitoring Programme.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Institutional Interventions<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Following a 2018 directive by the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/national-green-tribunal\/\" target=\"_blank\"><b>National Green Tribunal<\/b><\/a><b> (NGT)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, states are mandated to prepare river rejuvenation action plans.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The current CPCB report emphasises catchment management, sewage treatment, and floodplain protection as critical measures for reducing river pollution.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Challenges in River Rejuvenation<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Infrastructure gaps<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> &#8211; Sewage treatment plants (STPs) are under-capacity or non-functional in many cities.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Coordination failures<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> &#8211; Overlapping jurisdictions between CPCB, State Boards, and local authorities hinder accountability.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Funding and monitoring<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> &#8211; Many state-level action plans lack financial backing and robust evaluation.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Urbanisation pressures<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> &#8211; Continuous encroachments and waste generation outpace clean-up efforts.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Future Outlook<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400; text-align: justify;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While the marginal reduction in polluted stretches offers cautious optimism, India\u2019s river rejuvenation efforts must scale up significantly.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400; text-align: justify;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Initiatives like the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/namami-gange-programme\/\" target=\"_blank\"><b>Namami Gange Mission<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/jal-jeevan-mission-jjm\/\" target=\"_blank\"><b>Jal Jeevan Mission<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, and the push for decentralised sewage treatment are steps in the right direction.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400; text-align: justify;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, tackling agricultural runoff, enforcing industrial compliance, and engaging communities will be crucial for sustainable outcomes.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Source:<\/b><strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/sci-tech\/energy-and-environment\/number-of-polluted-river-sites-shows-slight-reduction-cpcb\/article70081607.ece#:~:text=The%20number%20of%20locations%20in,locations%20considered%20&#039;most%20polluted&#039;.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">TH<\/a> | <a href=\"https:\/\/indianexpress.com\/article\/india\/polluted-river-maharashtra-cpcb-report-10264726\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">IE<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The CPCB has reported a slight fall in river pollution in India, though several rivers remain critically polluted.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":21,"featured_media":64787,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[60,2844,22,59],"class_list":{"0":"post-64782","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-upsc-mains-current-affairs","8":"tag-mains-articles","9":"tag-river-pollution","10":"tag-upsc-current-affairs","11":"tag-upsc-mains-current-affairs","12":"no-featured-image-padding"},"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/64782","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/21"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=64782"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/64782\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/64787"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=64782"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=64782"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=64782"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}