63% of sewage flows into rivers untreated every day: Central Pollution Control Board

AGRA: In an indication of the massive extent of pollution in rivers of the country, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) in a report submitted to National Green Tribunal has said that 63% of all sewage flowing into rivers every day is untreated in urban centres. Out of 62,000 million litres per day (MLD) of sewage generated, the treatment capacity developed so far is only 23,277 MLD from 816 sewage treatment plants spread across the country, which is just not equal to the task, it said.
The CPCB’s observation came in an affidavit the board filed in response to a case filed in the green court by an Agra resident alleging deterioration of environmental parameters under the Taj Trapezium Zone (TTZ), especially surrounding Taj Mahal.
The board observed that the cities and towns are not having adequate system for sewage collection and its treatment and thus entire waste water either falls directly into rivers or lakes or remains inundated on land causing potential risk to groundwater contamination.
The board made it clear that it had directed all states pollution Control Boards and pollution control committees to make mandatory for local/urban bodies to set up sewage treatment plants (STPs) of adequate capacity and provide underground sewerage system in all urban areas in a letter dated April 4, 2015. In the letter, the board had said that sewage is the single major source of water resources deterioration, contributing 70% of the pollution load to water bodies.
The board said that the water quality monitoring carried out by CPCB at 1,275 locations covering 445 rivers for assessing the suitability of water quality for various purposes revealed that 718 locations are not meeting the water quality criteria with respect to BOD (biological oxygen demand) and fecal Coliform bacteria.
The water quality assessment has further indicated that there are 302 polluted river stretches on 275 rivers which are along the 35 metropolitan cities and 615 other urban centres. The increase of pollutants has been observed in the downstream stretches of rivers passing through the urban centres, it said.
Water quality of Ganga has been monitored at 57 locations and it has been observed that water quality is deteriorated on account of disposal of sewage through various drains. The sewage carrying drains after joining Ganga has affected the water quality and the sanctity of the river. This also holds true for the other polluted river stretches, CPCB observed.
The board said an assessment of the situation in Agra revealed that there are nine STPs in the city. Sewage generation of Agra is 381 MLD against installed capacity of 220.75 MLD, it added.