ASSESSMENT AND DEVELOPMENT STUDY OF RIVER BASIN

CPCB's ROLE IN PREVENTION OF RIVER POLLUTION :

As rivers are the lifeline of majority of population and also a symbol of purity, it is essential to keep them pollution free. Many important steps have been keep them pollution free. Many important steps have been taken in this direction by Central Pollution Control Board, which was constituted in 1974 under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act.1974.

Use Based Classification
In the early eightees, and atlas of the Indian River System was prepared on the 'designated best use'. Actually every river stretch has a distinct water use as some is used for irrigation, other for mass bathing and still others for drinking. The best use classification is essential, for maintaining the quality of river water of the particular stretch. The whole concept was unique, as not even many technically advanced countries possess such detailed user based river atlas.

Monitoring
The river water quality monitoring is most essential aspect of restoring the water quality. To evolve a methology for monitoring, the Yamuna River was adopted by Central Pollution Control Board. Its water quality monitoring at selected location was started in the late seventees and still continues. The data for water quality is generated for almost all major, medium and minor rivers in India through a network of 480-water quality monitoring stations.

Ganga Action Plan
Extensive survey of the Ganga River in 1980-81, gave the basis for the formulation of the Ganga Action Plan. It is a tribute to the river, which sustain most of the Northern, Central and Eastern Indian Population. Despite initial doubts over technical and economic aspects of the plan, mainly raised by so called developed countries, the nation is proud to successfully complete the first phase of the plan and now entering into the second, incorporating the stretches of the Yamuna and the Gomati. In addition to improving the water quality in the river, the other important achievement of the plan is to produce a large force of trained manpower in the field.

 
Table2: Primary Water Quality Criteria for Various Uses* of Fresh Waters. As Laid Down by the Central Pollution Control Board
S.No.Characteristics
A*
B*
C*
D*
E*
1.
Dissolved oxygen (DO), mg/l, Min
6
5
4
4
-
2.
Biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), mg/l, Max
2
3
3
-
-
3.
Total Coliforms organism** MPN/100 ml, Max.
50
500
5,000
-
-
4.
pH Value
6.5-8.5
6.5-8.5
6-9
6.5-8.5
6.5-8.5
5.
Free ammonia (as N), mg/l Max
-
-
-
1.2
-
6.
Electrical Conductivity Micromhos.cm, Max
-
-
-
-
2,250
7.
7. Sodium adsorption Ratio, Max.
-
-
-
-
26
8.
Boron, mg/l, Max.
-
-
-
-
2
* use class: (A) drinking water source without conventional treatment by after disinfections, (B) out door bathing Organized, (C) drinking water source with conventional treatment followed by disinfections, (D) propagation of wildlife, fisheries, (E) irrigation, industrial cooling, controlled waste disposal ** if the coliforms is found to be more than the prescribed tolerance limits, the criteria for coliforms shall be satisfied if not more than 20 percent of samples show , more than the tolerance limits specified, and not more than 5 percent of samples shows values more than 4 times the tolerance limits. There should be no visible discharge of domestic and industrial wastes into Class. A water. In case of Class B and C the discharge shall be so reulated/treatd as to ensure maintenance of the stream standards. Source: ADSPRBS/3/1978-79.

Polluted River Stretches
Based on the long-term water quality data generated over the years, the Central Pollution Control Board had identified river stretches where the existing water quality is below the water quality required by their designated best use criteria. These stretches are referred as polluted river stretches. While identifying these stretches, dissolved oxygen, biochemical oxygen demand and total Coliform have been taken as the critical pollutants. So far, 13 heavily polluted and 26 medium polluted river stretches have been identified. On behalf of the Ganga Project Directorate, the Central Board conducted detailed surveys of the polluted stretches. The action plans for most of the stretches are complete.

                                                        Table 3 Polluted River Stretches

River

Polluted Stretch

Desired Class

Existing Class

River

Polluted Stretch

Desired Class

Existing Class

Yamuna

Chambal

Kali

Hindon

Khan

Kashipura

Damodar

Gomati

Cauvery

Krishna

Bhadra

Brahmani

Tunga

Narmada Tapi

Betwa

Beas

Delhi- Etawah City limit of Delhi Mathura and Agra

D/S Naga and D/S of Kota (15 kms.)

D/S Modi nagar to confluence with Ganga

Saharanpur to Confluence with Yamuna

City limit of Indore D/S of Indore

City limit of Ujjain D/S of Indore

D/S/ of Dhanbad to Haldia

Lucknow to confluence with Ganga

Talakkaveri to 5 km of Mussorie Distt. Border Yagachi KR Sagar Dam to Hogenekkal Pugalur to

Karad to Sangli Dhom Dam to Narasarobadi

Tributary Stream Nira upto Nagarjun Sagar Dam and from that Dam to up Stream of Repella

Origin to D/S of KIOCL of Bhadra Dam (Karnataka)

Angul downstream from Kamalanga upto Bhuban

Tirthahalli to Confluence with Bhadra

Along Jabalpur city D/S Nepanagar to Burhanpur city

Along Mandideep and Vidisha

Upstream of manali to mandi Mandi downstream to Himachal Pradesh Border

C

B

C

C

D

C

C

B

C

C

C

A

C

C

     C

C

*

C

C

C

B

B

A

C

A

A

D/E

D/E

D/E

D/E

 

E

E

E

E

E

D/E

D/E

C

E

E

E

D

D/E

D

*

D

E

D

C

B

E

D

C

C

Kolong

Bhogdoi

Barak

Imphal

Hawrah

Sabarmati

Satluj

Subarna-rekha

Godavari

 

Grand Anicut Grand Anicut to Kumbakonam

Along Nagaon Town (Assam)

Along Jorhat Town (Assam)

Along Silchar Town (Assam)

Along Imphal City (Manipur)

Along Agartala City (Tripura)

Immediate upstream of Ahmedabad city to Sabarmati Ashram Sabarmati Ashram to Vautha

 

D/S of Ludhiana to Harike

Hatia Dam to Bharagora

D/S of Nasik to Nanded

City limits of Nasik and Nanded

Mancherial and Ramagundam to Bhadrachalam

C

*

C

*

C

*

B

D

C

C

C

B

C

E

*

D

*

D

*

E

E

D/E

D/E

D/E

      D/E

        D

 

The Ganga Action Plan (GAP) was formulated and launched primarily to arrest degradation of river water quality by a comprehensive programme of interception, diversion and treatment of domestic sewage and prevention of toxic and industrial chemical wastes from identified grossly polluting industrial units/stations entering into the river. The evolution of the Gnaga Action Plan since its inception in 1986 has had many interesting lessons to offer both for the river basin management and project implementation. Fur-her GAP has also persuaded government to look into the growing problem of pollution and deteriorating water quality in the other rivers of the country.

National River Conservation Plan
The National River Conservation Plan (NRCP) has been conceived as larger plan to carry out pollution abatement works in all the polluted river stretches. About 44 towns would be covered by the NRCP in the first instance for tackling the pollution load in their river stretches. The states covered are; Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Himacnal Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Orissa, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu and Uttrar Pradesh. An amount of Rs. 900 crores is estimated as the cost of treatment of 1650 million liters of wastewater per day likely to be generated by those 44 towns.

Industrial Pollution Control
Industrial units are being persuaded to adopt clean technologies, and to install and operate the treatment plants. 17 categories of major polluting industrial were identified and targets were fixed to adopt pollution control measures. The progress in this regard, is being monitored regularly.

Water Quality Atlas
Last year Central Pollution Control Board has brought out a water quality atlas containing 37 maps. Among these, 36 maps belong to minor river basins and one belongs to minor river basins and coastal water quality monitoring stations. Each river basin plate has been prepared in three sets. The first set shows the designated best use classification of the stream, while second set is for water quality monitoring or impact assessment of municipal wastewater. Water quality monitoring for impact assessment of priority industries is shown in the third plate. This atlas may be used as a ready reference to know about the health of major rivers of our country.

Foreign Collaborations
Foreign collaborations also being made to adopt new technologies. With the help of the Dutch Scientists, a method of bio monitoring was evolved for the Yamuna. The Thames Water international of Britain helped in evolving the yardsticks for the biomonitoring of the Ganga.

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