Cleaning and rejuvenation of rivers is a continuous process, and Central Government is supplementing the efforts of the State Governments and Union Territories in addressing the challenges of pollution abatement of rivers by providing financial and technical assistance through National River Conservation Plan (NRCP) for identified polluted river stretches. 

Under NRCP, various pollution abatement works are taken 

    • interception & diversion of raw sewage, 

    • construction of sewerage systems, 

    • setting up of sewage treatment plants, 

    • low cost sanitation, 

    • river front/bathing ghat development, 

    • public participation & awareness programme, etc.

Present scenario

Rivers are lifelines for the civilizations and provide a host of ecosystem services for the human beings. Threat to rivers has been increasing over the years as a result of rapid urbanisation, industrialization and increase in population. Hence a plan is needed for the protection, conservation and rejuvenation of these valuable resources.

There are 12 major river basins and 46 medium river basins in India. Out of the total measurable pollution in the rivers from various point sources, around 75% is from municipal sewage from towns located along the banks of rivers and remaining 25% is from industrial effluents.

Presently NRCP has covered polluted stretches of 34 rivers in 77 towns spread over 16 states at a sanctioned cost of Rs. 5870 crore. An amount of Rs. 2511 crore has been released to various state governments for implementation of various pollution abatement schemes and treatment capacity of 2520 million litres per day has been created so far under NRCP (excluding Ganga and its tributaries).

About NRCP

Ganga Action Plan - 1 was started in the year 1985 as a river pollution abatement programme and subsequently its phase-2 was further expanded to include other major rivers of the country in 1995 under the aegis of National River Conservation Plan (NRCP). 

National River Conservation Directorate (NRCD) in the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change is implementing NRCP and is providing financial assistance under the NRCP to the State Governments/ local bodies to set up infrastructure for pollution abatement of rivers in identified polluted river stretches based on proposals received from the State Governments/ local bodies.

Major objective is

    • to reduce the pollution load in rivers

    • to improve the water quality

The pollution abatement works taken up under the NRCP include:

    • Interception and diversion works/ laying of sewerage systems to capture raw sewage flowing into the rivers through open drains and diverting them for treatment.

    • Setting up of Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) for treating the diverted sewage

    • Construction of Low Cost Sanitation Toilets to prevent open defecation on river banks

    • Construction of Electric Crematoria and Improved Wood Crematoria to conserve the use of wood

    • River Front Development works, such as improvement of bathing ghats

    • Public participation & awareness and capacity building, etc.

(The author is a trainer for Civil Services aspirants. The views expressed here are personal.)