GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI
DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT & GANGA REJUVENATION
RAJYA SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 724
ANSWERED ON 10.02.2025
POLLUTION OF YAMUNA AND OTHER RIVERS DESPITE WASTEWATER TREATMENT
724. SHRI SANT BALBIR SINGH

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

(a) whether rivers such as the Yamuna continue to be polluted despite the treatment of wastewater;

(b) the underlying reasons contributing to the persistent pollution of these rivers;

(c) whether it is a fact that several Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) are not functioning according to the required standards, leading to inadequate treatment of wastewater and the failure to clean river water effectively?

ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI
(SHRI RAJ BHUSHAN CHOUDHARY)

(a) & (b) The common underlying reasons for pollution in rivers are;

i. Discharge of untreated/ partially treated sewage into rivers due to gap in treatment capacity and sewage generation;

ii. Absence of Effluent Treatment Plants/Common Effluent Treatment Plants (CETPs) in some industries/ industrial pockets;

iii. Delay in completion of new sewage treatment projects and rehabilitation and/or upgradation of sewage treatment projects.

(c) As informed by CPCB the Status of sewerage treatment plants functioning is given as under: –