302 dirty river stretches identified by central pollution body

NEW DELHI: As many as 302 polluted river stretches have been identified in 275 rivers based on bio-chemical oxygen demand levels, a key indicator of organic pollution, Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar said today.

He said the Water Resources Information System database developed by Central Water Commission along with Indian Space Research Organisation includes 15,615 identified rivers and streams in the country.

"As per report published by Central Pollution Control Board, in February 2015, 302 polluted river stretches have been identified on 275 rivers based on bio-chemical oxygen demand levels, a key indicator of organic pollution," Javadekar said.

He said it is responsibility of the state governments and concerned local bodies to set up proper facilities for collection, transportation and treatment of sewage being generated and ensure that untreated sewage does not fall into the rivers thereby polluting them.

"The Ministry has been supplementing the efforts of the state governments in abatement of pollution in identified stretches of various rivers under National River Conservation Plan and National Ganga River Basin Authority programme," the minister said.