After five years of near inaction, the Supreme Court closed its 2021 suo motu proceedings on remediation of polluted rivers and shifted the primary oversight responsibility to the National Green Tribunal (NGT).
- The Court also observed that the ‘right to live in hygienic conditions with human dignity and a clean environment’ forms part of the Right to Life under Article 21 of the Constitution.
River Pollution in India (as per CPCB’s 2025 Report)
- Polluted River Stretch (PRS): Defined as stretches where the Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) exceeds 3 mg/L.
- BOD (key indicator of water quality) is the amount of dissolved oxygen needed by aerobic microorganisms to break down organic matter in water over a specific period.
- Status: 296 river stretches were polluted on 271 rivers (out of 645 rivers assessed) across 32 states and Union Territories. Highest in Maharashtra (54).
- It includes Yamuna in Delhi, Sabarmati in Ahmedabad, Chambal in Madhya Pradesh, Tungabhadra in Karnataka, and Sarabanga in Tamil Nadu.
Major Sources of River Pollution
- Untreated Sewage: According to the CPCB, more than 60% of untreated sewage water is released into rivers daily.
- Untreated Industrial Effluents: Industries such as those producing chemicals, sugar, paper, and tanneries generate wastewater.
- Others: Municipal solid waste, agricultural runoff, sand mining and illegal encroachment.
Initiatives taken for cleaning and rejuvenation of Rivers
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