PUNE: Maharashtra accounts for the highest number of polluted river sections in the country at 55 by 2022, Central Pollution The Control Board (CPCB) said in its recent report it identified nearly 311 polluted river sections in a network of 279 rivers across India.
According to CPCB, Maharashtra is also one of 13 states of the country with an increase in the number of polluted river sections. Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, among others. The organization said that in 2018, 53 river sections were polluted.
A CPCB official said TOI, “State pollution control boards have been directed to ensure mandatory ecological flows at all contaminated road sections. Ecological flow refers to the minimum flow that needs to be maintained in a river to ensure optimal conditions for existing ecosystems.”
He said the study is a periodic review of the water quality of rivers in the country and has measured Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) excesses in these river sections. “We have identified contaminated river sections where water quality does not meet the basic BOD criteria for outdoor bathing. BOD during such periods is more than 3mg/L.”
Higher BOD indicates more oxygen requirement and indicates lower water quality. The official said all such river sections are polluted by discharge of sewage and industrial pollutants. “Among the wastewater discharged into the river, we see more untreated wastewater than treated wastewater. While factories are required to treat industrial wastewater at wastewater treatment plants (ETPs) before discharging it into water sources, most cities do not have the infrastructure to treat domestic wastewater. . This is one of the main causes of river pollution.” He said an action plan has been implemented and approved by the CPCB to address the issue.
Water expert Himanshu Thakkar, and coordinator of the South Asian Dam, Rivers and Peoples Network, said: “Maharashtra is the most industrialized state and has many industries, which can contribute to pollution. river. Its substantial urban population has also put a lot of strain on the rivers, in terms of the discharge of untreated domestic wastewater into water bodies.”
Thakkar said polluted rivers can have a major impact on the aquatic life, flora and fauna in the river.
As part of the monitoring, the water quality of 56 rivers in Maharashtra was monitored by the CPCB. As many as 147 locations across 55 rivers in the state do not comply with regulatory water quality criteria for BOD levels. The names of some of the polluted rivers include Amba, Amravati, Bhatsa, Bhima, Bindusara, Bori, Burai, Chandrabhaga, Koyna, Krishna, Kundalika, Manjeera and Mula-Mutha, among others.
According to CPCB, Maharashtra is also one of 13 states of the country with an increase in the number of polluted river sections. Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, among others. The organization said that in 2018, 53 river sections were polluted.
A CPCB official said TOI, “State pollution control boards have been directed to ensure mandatory ecological flows at all contaminated road sections. Ecological flow refers to the minimum flow that needs to be maintained in a river to ensure optimal conditions for existing ecosystems.”
He said the study is a periodic review of the water quality of rivers in the country and has measured Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) excesses in these river sections. “We have identified contaminated river sections where water quality does not meet the basic BOD criteria for outdoor bathing. BOD during such periods is more than 3mg/L.”
Higher BOD indicates more oxygen requirement and indicates lower water quality. The official said all such river sections are polluted by discharge of sewage and industrial pollutants. “Among the wastewater discharged into the river, we see more untreated wastewater than treated wastewater. While factories are required to treat industrial wastewater at wastewater treatment plants (ETPs) before discharging it into water sources, most cities do not have the infrastructure to treat domestic wastewater. . This is one of the main causes of river pollution.” He said an action plan has been implemented and approved by the CPCB to address the issue.
Water expert Himanshu Thakkar, and coordinator of the South Asian Dam, Rivers and Peoples Network, said: “Maharashtra is the most industrialized state and has many industries, which can contribute to pollution. river. Its substantial urban population has also put a lot of strain on the rivers, in terms of the discharge of untreated domestic wastewater into water bodies.”
Thakkar said polluted rivers can have a major impact on the aquatic life, flora and fauna in the river.
As part of the monitoring, the water quality of 56 rivers in Maharashtra was monitored by the CPCB. As many as 147 locations across 55 rivers in the state do not comply with regulatory water quality criteria for BOD levels. The names of some of the polluted rivers include Amba, Amravati, Bhatsa, Bhima, Bindusara, Bori, Burai, Chandrabhaga, Koyna, Krishna, Kundalika, Manjeera and Mula-Mutha, among others.
