< General Studies Home Page

Content

• River Pollution
• Namami Gange
• Ecological Flow of Rivers
• Ground Water Issues
• Uranium Contamination of Ground Water
• Detergent and Water Pollution
• Fresh Water Salination Syndrome (FSS)

---

1) RIVER POLLUTION

• ­Why in news?
  • The number of polluted stretches in India’s rivers has fallen from 351 in 2018 to 311 in 2022, though the number of most polluted stretches is practically unchanged: Report by CPCB (made public in Dec 2022)
• Current River Pollution Situation in India (Dec 2022)
  • CPCB in association with pollution control boards/committees in different states/Uts monitors water quality of rivers and water bodies across the country through a network of monitoring stations under the National Water Quality Monitoring Program. Total 4,484 locations in 28 states and 7 UTs including rivers, lakes, creeks, drains and canals are observed.
  • Standards of measurement by CPCB:
    • CPCB measures pollution level on the basis of Biological Oxygen Demand. If BOD is less than 3mg/L, it means the river stretch is fit for ‘outdoor bathing’. If BOD of a point is > 3.0 mg/L, it is identified as polluted locations.

• • • Two or more polluted locations on a river in a continuous stretch are considered as a “polluted river stretch“.
    • Polluted stretches are classified between Priority1 (BOD of 20-30 mg/L) to Priority-5 (BOD of 3-6 mg/L).
    • The success of river cleaning program is measured on the basis of how the river stretches are moving from Priority-1 to Priority 5 and if the priority-5 stretches are getting reduced.
  • Situation in 2018 report: Number of stretches under various priorities:
    • P1 (45); P2 (16); P3 (43); P4 (72); P5 (175);
  • Situation in 2022 report
    • P1 (46); P2(16); P3 (39); P4 (65); P5 (145);
  • Thus, there are no changes or slight changes in Priority 1 and 2. This indicates that number of worst polluted regions remain the same.
    • Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh have the maximum number (6) of Priority 1 river
    • Maharashtra has the maximum number of polluted river stretches.
• ­Factors:
  • Discharge of untreated or partially treated sewage and Industrial effluents from cities/towns in their respective catchments is the main cause of river pollution in states.
  • Illegal dumping of solid waste on the banks of the rivers
  • Shortage of STP/ETP Capacity
    • As per CPCB report (March 2021), the sewage generation in urban areas is at 72,368 million liters/ day whereas total operational treatment capacity was only 26,869 MLD.
  • Poor operations and maintenance of Sewage and Effluent Treatment plants
  • Non-points sources of pollution
  • Rapid Industrialization and Urbanization is further compounding the issue.
  • Min-Ecological flow is not being ensured in many rivers.
• Key steps being taken.
  • It is the responsibility of states/Uts/local bodies to ensure treatment of sewage and industrial effluents before it being discharged into water bodies.
  • MoEF&CC is contributing in conservation of rivers by providing financial and technical assistance for abatement of pollution in identified stretches of rivers in the country through the Central Sector Scheme of Namami Gange for rivers in Ganga Basin and the Centrally Sponsored Scheme of National River Conservation Plan (NRCP) for other rivers.
  • Further, under MGNREGA, rejuvenation of small rivers is being prioritized.
  • In Addition, sewerage infrastructure is created under the AMRUT and Smart Cities Mission of MoHUA.
  • Law and Regulations:
    • As per the Environmental (Protection) Act, 1986 and the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution), Act 1974, the industrial units are required to install effluent treatment plants (ETPs) and treat their effluents to comply with stipulated environmental standards before discharging into river and water bodies.
    • CPCBs, SPCBs and Pollution Control Committees (PCCs) monitor the industries with respect to treatment of effluent discharge standards and act for non-compliance under the provision of various acts.

 2) NAMAMI GANGE

• ­Introduction
  • There have been several initiatives to clean Ganga so National Ganga Action Plan 1 was started in 1986, NGA-2 in 1993 and later extended to other states. Till 2014, more than 4,000 crores had been spent. But the river had remained dirty.
  • So, when government launched the Namami Gange in mid-May 2015, there was a new hope.
• Namami Gange Program was launched from June 2014 to 31st March 2021 to rejuvenate River Ganga and its tributaries with a budget of Rs 20,000 crores.
  • A total of Rs 14,084 crores has been released by GoI to NMCG, from FY15 to 31st Jan 2023, out of which Rs, 13,607 crores have been released by NMCG to state governments, state mission for clean ganga, and other agencies for the implementation of projects related to Ganga Rejuvenation.
  • In 2023, Government approved Namami Gange Mission-II with a budgetary outlay of Rs 22,500 crores till 2026. It includes projects of existing liabilities (Rs 11,225 crores) and new projects/interventions (Rs 11,275 crores)
  • Eight Mains Pillars of Namami Gange Scheme
    • Sewage Treatment Infrastructure
    • River Surface Cleaning
    • Industrial Effluent Monitoring
    • Ganga Gram
    • Afforestation
    • River Front Development
    • Biodiversity Protection
    • Public Awareness
• Improved Governance Structure under Namami Gange:
  • Implementation by NMCG and its state counterparts – State Program Management Groups (SPMGs).
  • National Ganga Council (replaced NGRBA) which is headed by PM and has chief ministers of five ganga basin states – UK, UP, Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal.
    • It has the overall responsibility for the superintendence of pollution prevention and rejuvenation of River Ganga Basin, including Ganga and its tributaries.
  • For Monitoring
    • High level task force chaired by Cabinet secretary and assisted by
    • State level committee chaired by Chief Secretary and assisted by
    • District level committee chaired by the District Magistrate.
  • An empowered task force, headed by Union Water Resource Minister, was created and it has on board the chief secretaries of the five Ganga basin states. It is supposed to meet every three months.
  • State Ganga Committee have been formed. These committees would be the nodal agency to implement the Program in states. Further, they would also conduct safety audits of the river and river remedial measures.
  • Synergy between different ministries – Ministry of Jal Shakti have signed MoUs with 10 other ministries to synergize the activities under Namami Ganga.
  • Focus on involvement of more stakeholders including states, ULBs and PRIs, People and private sector (through PPP projects)
  • 4 Battalion of Ganga Eco-Task force has also been envisaged to spread awareness and for protecting the river.
• Mains Focus on Namami Gange is on pollution abatement interventions which include
  • Interception, diversion and treatment of waste water through bio-remediation, in-situ treatment, innovation technologies, STPs, Effluent Treatment Plants etc.
  • Rehabilitation of existing STPs
  • Immediate short-term measures for arresting pollution at exit points on river front to prevent inflow of sewage etc.
• Other Steps under the Namami Gange Program
  1. Hariyali is a plantation project along the stretch of Ganga in all five states through which it flows.
  2. Ganga Gram Yojana
     • To develop STP, toilets in all villages along the river ganga. Based on Sichewal model (a Punjab village) which I based on cooperation of villagers for water management and waste disposal.
     • Government will spend Rs 1 crore per village in this plan.
  3. Smart Ganga Cities
     • Program for infra development along cities on Ganga river.
  4. Promotion of organic farming in villages along the Ganga.

A) NATIONAL GANGA COUNCIL (NGC)

• ­About National Ganga Council
  • National Ganga Council (NGC) chaired by the Prime Minister is an authority created in Oct 2016 under the River Ganga (Rejuvenation, Protection and Management) Authorities Order, 2016, dissolving the National Ganga River Basin Authority.
  • It has been given the overall responsibility for the superintendence of pollution prevention and rejuvenation of River Ganga Basin, including Ganga and its tributaries.
• Composition
  • PM is the ex-officio chairperson.
  • Union Minister of Jal Shakti is the ex-officio Vice Chairperson.
  • The other ex-officio members of the council are from various ministries and CMs of the corresponding states among other stakeholders.
• Jurisdiction
  • The Jurisdiction of NCG extends to states through which Ganga, its tributaries and sub- tributaries flow – Himachal, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, NCR of Delhi, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, West Bengal etc.

 3) ECOLOGICAL FLOW OF RIVERS

• ­What is ecological flow (e-flow) of a river?
  • Ecological flow (or environmental flow) is the acceptable flow regimes that are required to maintain a river in the desired state. It is the quantity and timing of water essential for the river to fulfil its ecological, social and economic functions.
• In Oct 2018, the central government notified the minimum e-flow for River Ganga with an aim to maintain the natural pattern of the river flow (Aviral Dhara)
  • NMCG has laid down these norms. It’s applicable to the upper Ganga River Basin – starting from the Originating Glacier to Haridwar – and the main stem of Ganga upto Unnao district in Uttar Pradesh.
    • The e-flow notification specifies that the upper stretches of the Ganga — from its origins in the glaciers and until Haridwar — would have to maintain:
      • 20% of the monthly average flow of the preceding 10-days between November and March, which is the dry season.
      • 25% of the average during the ‘lean season’ of October, April and May; and March, which is the dry season.
      • 30% of monthly average during the monsoon months of June-September.

 4) GROUND WATER ISSUES

• Introduction: Global Situation
  • As per World Water Development Report, 2022, Ground water accounts for 99% of the liquid freshwater on earth. It has continued to serve humankind for many millennia and currently around 50% of water used in domestic purpose and 25% of water used for irrigation globally comes from groundwater.

India’s Situation:

Annual extractable groundwater availability in India (2017) is 393 BCM.

• India is the largest user of ground water in the world, extracting 253 BCM per year, which is 25% of the global ground water extraction. It extracts more groundwater than USA and China combined together.

Most of the ground water extracted in India is for Irrigation (228 billion Cubic Meter (BCM)) which accounts for 90% of the total extraction.

• In India, 60% of irrigation requirement is fulfilled by groundwater.
• The remaining 10% (225 BCM) is for drinking, domestic as well as industrial uses.
• Industrial use accounts for only 5% of the total extraction
• Satellite Gravimetry has provided convincing evidence in support of the alarming rates of groundwater depletion.
• The data is supported by local level water table measurements in wells, where in 61% decline has been seen by CGWB.
• As per the 2022 assessment by the CGWB, 14% of assessments units in the country (1006/7089) have been categorized as ‘Over-exploited’ where the annual groundwater extraction is more than annual available Ground Water Resource. 4 States/Uts Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan, Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu have stage of Ground Water Extraction greater than 100%.
• Key Challenges:
  • Depletion due to Over-extraction:
    • Over the years, groundwater has become the dominant source of irrigation as well as for domestic purpose. This is primarily due to unavailability of surface irrigation in regions such as Rajasthan.
    • Installation of tube-wells have increased in north-western plains. Since the 1980s, 77% of the total addition to irrigation has come from tubewells. This has allowed farmers in the region to grow water intensive crops like Wheat and Rice. It has also allowed increase in cropping intensity by allowing for sowing of crops during dry winters.
    • Electricity Subsidy for agriculture and increased rural electrification has also been a factor behind over-exploitation of ground water.
    • Expansion of solar powered irrigation systems which have led to very affordable cost of ground water extraction.
    • Weak law and regulations to prevent or limit diffuse groundwater pollution.
    • Industry that withdraws groundwater include manufacturing, mining, oil, and gas, power generation, engineering, and construction.
      • Bottled water industry is emerging as a major extractor.
  • Destruction of wetlands, acquifers etc. which used to act as water sinks and contributed to ground water recharge.
  • Pollution: (Both from Agriculture and Industry)
  • Irreversibility: Once polluted, the acquifers tend to remain with polluted water.
  • Climate Change: CC impacts groundwater through impacting precipitation, leakage from surface water, sea water intrusion into coastal acquifers
• Key Efforts for Groundwater:
  • Recent Schemes:
    • Jal Shakti Abhiyan: First launched in the year 2019, it focuses primarily upon effectively harvesting the monsoon rainfall through creation of artificial recharge structures, watershed management, intensive afforestation, awareness generation etc. JSA for the year 2023 was launched on 4th March 2023 with the theme “Source Sustainability for Drinking Water”.
    • Amrit Sarovar Mission – launched in April 2022 – focuses on developing and rejuvenating 75 water bodies in each district of the country as part of celebration of Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsava.
    • Atal Bhujal Yojana is being implemented by central government in collaboration with states. It has an outlay of Rs 6,000 crores and is being implemented in certain water stressed areas of Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. The Primary aim of the scheme is demand side management through scientific means based on water budgeting of the area involving local communities at village levels leading to sustainable groundwater management in targeted areas.
  • Institutions:
    • Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA) has been constituted under Section 3(3) of the “Environment (Protection) Act, 1986” for the purpose of regulating and control of ground water by industries, mining projects, infrastructure, projects etc. in the country.
      • The latest guidelines in this regard with Pan- India applicability was notified by Minsitry in 2020. CGWA and State issues No Objection Certificate (NOC) for extraction of groundwater to various industries/project proponents as per their jurisdiction and as per the extant guidelines.
    • CGWA is also implementing National Acquifer Mapping Program (NAQUIM) in the country. These reports along with management plans are shared with States/Uts for suitable intervention.
  • MoHUA has formulated Model Building by Laws (MBBL), 2016 for the states/ Uts, wherein adequate focus has been given on requirement of rainwater harvesting and water conservation measures. 35 states/Uts have adopted the features of the Model Bye Laws.
  • Major and Medium projects under Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Program are also reducing dependency on ground water extraction.

A) INSTITUTIONS FOR GROUND WATER

• Central Ground Water Authority, Ministry of Jal Shakti has the mandate of regulating ground water development and management in the country.
  • It has been doing it through measures such as issue of advisories, public notice, grant on NOC for ground water withdrawal etc.
  • It has been constituted under section 3(3) of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 to regulate and control development and management of ground water resources in the country.
• Central Ground Water Board (under ministry of Jalshakti) monitors water levels and quality through a network of 23,916 “National Hydrograph Monitoring Stations” – 6,503 dug wells and 16,693 piezometers.
  • Note: Piezometer is a device placed in a bare hole to monitor the pressure of groundwater.

5) URANIUM CONTAMINATION OF GROUND WATER

• ­How much of Uranium in Water is acceptable?
  • WHO has set a provisional safe drinking water standard of 30 micrograms of Uranium per liter for India. This standard is also consistent with the US Environment Protection Agency Standards.
  • In India, the Indian Standard IS 10500: 2012 for Drinking Water specification has specified the maximum acceptable limits for radioactive residues as alpha and beta emitters, values in excess of which render the water not suitable.
    • But Individual radioactive elements have not been specifically identified.
    • As per Information provided by Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), they are working to incorporate maximum permissible limit of Uranium as 30 micrograms/liter.
• Situation in India:
  • According to a study published in Environmental Science and Technology – there is high Uranium Contamination in Ground Water of 16 Indian States.
  • A report by Duke University, USA in association with Central Ground Water Board and State Ground Water Departments states that Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Karnataka, MHA, Odisha, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, UP, WB and J&K have localized occurrence of Uranium concentration.
  • WHO has also said that there is prevalence of concentration above 30 mg/lt of Uranium in some localized pockets of few states/UTs in the country.
  • Why the contamination?
    • Ground Water Depletion and Nitrate Pollution may be aggravating the already present natural uranium contamination to dangerous levels.
    • Process:
      • Many of India’s aquifers are composed of clay, silt and gravel carried down from Himalayan weathering by streams or uranium-rich granitic rocks. When over- pumping of these aquifers’ groundwater occurs and their water levels decline, it induces oxidation conditions that, in turn, enhance uranium enrichment in the shallow groundwater that remains.
      • Though the primary source is geogenic, anthropogenic factors such as ground water table decline and nitrate pollution may further enhance uranium mobilization.
    • Impact
      • Uranium contamination of drinking water may be responsible for chronic kidney diseases. Radioactivity is not an issue here, but the toxicity is.

6) DETERGENT AND WATER POLLUTION

• Water pollution caused by detergents is emerging as a big concern all over the world.
• ­How much of detergent in consumed in different countries?

Country	Per capita detergent consumption per year
India	2.7 kg
Phillipines and Malaysia	3.7 kg
USA	10 kg

• Pollution due to detergents
  • Nonylphenol, a hazardous chemical present in detergents, is known to enter water bodies and food chain. It also bio-accumulates and can cause severe environmental and health risks.
    • It has been detected from human breast milk, urine and bloo.
    • The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has set the standard of phenolic compounds in drinking water at 0.5 mg/L and surface water at 5.0 mg/L.
  • The detergents are also suspected to contain carcinogenic compounds.
  • Many laundry detergents contain 35 – 75% of phosphate salt. This can cause many water pollution problems.
    • It can inhibit biodegradation of organic substances.
    • Eutrophication can also be caused by phosphate salts.
      • This may choke water bodies with algae and other plants. It can also deprive water of available oxygen, causing the death of other organisms.
    • In Belgium, phosphate has been restricted since 2003 in detergents.
• ­ Detergents can also harm biodiversity
  • They are capable of destroying the external mucus layers that protect the fish from bacteria and parasites, causing severe damage to the gills.
    • Fish can die at detergent concentration near 15 Even at a concentration of 5 ppm, fish eggs would be killed.
  • Detergents may also cause the water to grow This blocks out light and disrupts the growth of plant. Turbidity also clogs the respiratory system of some fish species.
• ­Way forward
• Finding sustainable substitutes for harmful components (for g. for Nonylphenol)
• Efficient Use – Reduce
• Nanotech – to develop newer varieties of fiber -> don’t need harmful chemical detergent to
• Improved Regulation for chemical sector -> identify harmful chemicals; phase out these chemicals.

 7) FRESH WATER SALINATION SYNDROME (FSS)

• Introduction
  • Approx. 70% of the earth is covered by water; only 2.5% of that is fresh water.
• How is FSS caused?
  • Road salts
  • Human accelerated weathering of infrastructure, rocks and soils
  • Sea-level rise and saltwater intrusion
  • Evaporative concentration of salt ions from hydrologic modifications and climate
  • Disturbance in vegetation and local groundwater hydrology.
• Impacts
  • Increased water toxicity
  • Reduction in freshwater resources
  • FSS also increases chances of heavy metal pollution of water.
    • For g. saltwater can mobilize elevated levels of arsenic in water.
  • Salination may degrade fertile land and make agriculture unviable.