Number of polluted river stretches in India in 2025, Pg10

Key Highlights:

• The number of polluted river stretches in India decreased to 296 in 2025 from 351 in 2018.
• This data was reported by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
• The decline also includes a reduction from 311 polluted stretches recorded in 2022.
• River pollution is primarily attributed to untreated or partially treated sewage, industrial effluents, and non-point sources.
• Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) is a key indicator used to identify polluted stretches.

Detailed Insights:

• The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) is a statutory organization established in 1974 under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, functioning under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC).
• The government has implemented significant initiatives like the Namami Gange Programme and the National River Conservation Plan (NRCP) to address river pollution.
• The Namami Gange Programme, launched in June 2014, is a flagship initiative under the Ministry of Jal Shakti focused on the abatement of pollution and rejuvenation of the Ganga River and its tributaries.
• The National River Conservation Plan (NRCP), initiated in 1995, is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme aimed at improving water quality in major Indian rivers, excluding the Ganga basin.
• Polluted river stretches are identified when their Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) exceeds 3 mg/l, with stretches over 30 mg/l categorized as most polluted.
• Non-point sources of pollution encompass diffuse origins such as agricultural runoff containing fertilizers and pesticides, urban stormwater runoff, and atmospheric deposition.
• Despite the observed decline, the discharge of untreated sewage and industrial effluents continues to pose significant challenges to river health.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB): India's apex statutory body for pollution control, monitoring, and technical guidance under the MoEFCC.
• Namami Gange Programme: A flagship integrated conservation mission for the effective abatement of pollution and rejuvenation of the National River Ganga.
• National River Conservation Plan (NRCP): A government scheme for pollution abatement in major Indian rivers, excluding the Ganga basin.
• Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD): A measure of the amount of dissolved oxygen consumed by microorganisms during the decomposition of organic matter in water.
• Non-point Source Pollution: Pollution that originates from diffuse sources over a wide area, rather than from a single, identifiable discharge point.