Saving rivers

Saving rivers

 News:

1.Central Pollution Control Board in its findings raises concern over critically polluted Rivers.

Important Facts:

2.CPCB in its finding has reported an increase in number of polluted rivers from 302 to 351 in two years.

3.Maharashtra, Gujarat and Assam accounted for major segments of polluted Rivers.

4.Various factors leading to river pollution such as:

• Inefficient laws to regulate waste management and protect water quality.
• Failure of many national programmes for river conservation and water quality monitoring.
• Sewage water management.
• Poor infrastructure located near the Rivers.
• Rapid urbanization.

5.Steps needs to be considered:

• Provide steady funding to expand sewage water treatment plants in Urban agglomeration.
• Sustained civil society pressure on governments to ensure the work is done in a time bound manner.
• Need strong measures to regulate liquid waste from various industries.
• Technological advancement for the recovery of wastewater for reuse.

6.Benefits:

• Revive India’s dying rivers
• Protect agriculture
• Prevent serious harm to public health from contaminated water

7.Finally, the reporting mechanism of CPCB needs to be intensified with the assistance from State Pollution Control Board to eliminate pollutants.