Indian River Bathing Quality Improves

Summary of River Pollution Report (CPCB)

• Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB):

  • Reports on the health of Indian rivers, focusing on Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD).
  • A BOD greater than 3 mg/L indicates that a river is unfit for bathing.

• Current Statistics (2023):

  • Unfit bathing locations: Decreased from 815 locations (2022) to 807 locations (2023).
  • Most polluted river stretches: Reduced from 311 PRS in 279 rivers (2022) to 296 PRS in 271 rivers (2023).
  • The monitoring network includes 4,736 locations across rivers, lakes, creeks, drains, and canals.

• Geographical Highlights:

  • Maharashtra has the highest number of polluted locations with 54 PRS.
  • Other states with significant PRS include:
    • Kerala - 31
    • Madhya Pradesh - 18
    • Manipur - 18
    • Karnataka - 14
  • Priority 1 stretches (most polluted) concentrated in:
    • Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand - each have 5 locations.

• Priority Classification:

  • Priority 1: BOD > 30 mg/L (Urgent remediation needed).
  • Priority 2: BOD 20-30 mg/L.
  • Priority 3: BOD 6-20 mg/L.
  • Priority 4: BOD 3-6 mg/L.
  • Priority 5: BOD ≤ 3 mg/L.

• Improvements Noted:

  • Reduction in Priority 1 stretches from 45 to 37.
  • Reduction in Priority 4 stretches from 72 to 45.
  • Reduction in Priority 5 stretches from 175 to 148.
  • An increase in Priority 2 and Priority 3 stretches indicates improved river health.

• Judicial Oversight:

  • Following media reports in 2018, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) mandated the CPCB and the Jal Shakti Ministry to monitor river pollution.
  • States are required to implement Action Plans to restore at least one river stretch to a bathing standard.

• Historical Context:

  • In 2018, previous assessments classified:
    • 45 stretches as Priority 1.
    • 16 stretches as Priority 2
    • 43 stretches as Priority 3.
    • 72 stretches as Priority 4.
    • 175 stretches as Priority 5.

This report highlights both challenges and improvements in river pollution management across India, reflecting the ongoing efforts and the need for continued action to enhance water quality for public use.