More than half of untreated sewage flows into rivers: Government

NEW DELHI: More than 50 per cent of the untreated sewage water flows into rivers across the country, Environment, government told Rajya Sabha today.

Replying to a question, Forests and Climate Change Minister Prakash Javadekar said that 36,874.07 million litres per day (mld) of untreated sewage is discharged into rivers.

Quoting a recent survey of Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the minister said that the total sewage generation in the counrty is 57,233 mld as against the operational sewage treatment capacity of 20358.93 mld and non-operational of 1,119.76 mld.

"Proper treatment and disposal of sewage generated in towns is the responsibility of the concerned state governments and local bodies so that untreated sewage is not discharged into rivers," the minister said.

Speaking on the measures being taken by the government in the matter, Javadekar said that 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, on cost-sharing basis.

Integrated Ganga Conservation Mission has been started by the government for an integrated and comprehensive action plan for rejuvenation of Ganga and its tributaries inluding Yamuna, Javadekar said.