Mahashtra govt to implement river conservation scheme

MUMBAI: In view of growing urbanisation and industrialisation, Maharashtra government will implement a river conservation scheme, under which sewage water will be treated for reuse in industry and agriculture.

The scheme will be implemented in class 'D' municipal corporations, councils and villages with population up to 15,000 that are situated along the rivers.

According to officials, urbanisation and industrialisation are adversely affecting the water sources.

Seventy per cent pollution in rivers is because of sewage water and 30 per cent because of industrial effluents, they said.

The scheme will focus on curbing pollution in rivers and improving the quality of river water, besides identifying polluting belts. Religious, historic and important sites (in commercial and tourism terms) will be given priority.