Polluted River Stretch ( UPSC Prelims)

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News Context

The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has published an evaluation report titled “Polluted River Stretches for Restoration of Water Quality - 2025”.

Role of CPCB in monitoring Polluted River stretches

The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) carries out the National Water Quality Monitoring Programme (NWMP) in collaboration with State Pollution Control Boards and Pollution Control Committees. Since 2009, the CPCB has embarked on the task of pinpointing the nation's Polluted River Stretches (PRS).

About Polluted River Stretch (PRS)

 ● PRS: A sequence of two or more contaminated sites along a river is termed as a stretch and is recognized as a PRS.  
  ● Criteria: The Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) surpasses 3 milligrams per litre (mg/L).  
    ● BOD serves as a measure of water quality, indicating the oxygen required to decompose organic substances.  
  ● Categories: There are five Priority Classes (I to V) determined by the highest BOD recorded.  
        ○ For instance, Priority Class I includes monitoring sites where BOD levels exceed 30.1 mg/L.
  ● Polluted Stretches: A total of 296 river stretches were found to be polluted across 271 rivers (out of 645 rivers evaluated) in 32 States/UTs.  
      ○ The overall count of PRS has reduced from 351 (in 2018) to 296 (in 2025).
  ● Geographic Distribution: Maharashtra has the largest number (54) of PRS.  
  ● Notable PRS: This includes the Yamuna in Delhi, Sabarmati in Ahmedabad, Chambal in Madhya Pradesh, Tungabhadra in Karnataka, and Sarabanga in Tamil Nadu.  

Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)

Genesis: A statutory body established under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974.
 ▷ Granted powers and responsibilities under the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981.
 Ministry: Operates under the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change.
 Key Functions: Focus on promoting the cleanliness of streams and wells, controlling and reducing water pollution, and providing technical services to the Environment Ministry under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
  ● Key Programmes/Initiatives: Includes the National Air Quality Monitoring Programme (NAMP) and Water Quality Assessment under the National Water Quality Monitoring Programme (NWMP), among others.  
 State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs): Established under the same acts to support the CPCB in enforcing environmental laws and regulations within a state's jurisdiction.
 Power to Impose Environmental Compensation (EC): According to a Supreme Court ruling, Pollution Control Boards (PCBs) can impose or collect EC under the Water Act, 1974 and Air Act, 1981 in cases of environmental damage caused by a negligent entity or when damage is imminent, but not for every violation.
 ▷ This is separate from punitive actions under the Acts.

Framework for rejuvenation of Rivers

Legal Framework:
  ● Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974: Establishes CPCB (central unit) and SPCB (state unit) for planning and regulating environmental matters.  
  ● Environment Protection Act, 1986: Lays down standards for industrial discharge.  
  ● Waste Management Rules: Notified on solid waste, biomedical waste, E-waste, etc.  
 River Rejuvenation Programmes:
  ● Namami Gange Programme: Superseded Ganga Action Plan (GAP) – launched in 1985, implemented by National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) with the river basin as the unit of planning and management.  
    ● NMCG: Registered as a society in 2011 under Societies Registration Act, 1860, acts as the implementation arm of National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA).  
          ○ Consists of a two-tier management structure and comprises a Governing Council and Executive Committee, both headed by the Director General, NMCG.
    ● NGRBA: Constituted under EPA, 1986, replacing National Ganga Council (chaired by PM) in 2016.  
  ● Yamuna Action Plan: Launched in 1993.  
      ○ Centrally Sponsored Scheme of National River Conservation Plan (NRCP): In identified stretches of rivers, excluding in the Ganga basin.
  ● National Water Quality Monitoring Programme (NWQM).  
 Schemes for Sewerage Infrastructure: Atal Mission for Rejuvenation & Urban Transformation (AMRUT), Smart Cities Mission, and Swachh Bharat Mission.