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Water is one of the most essential requisites that nature has provided
to sustain life on earth. Without water there would be no life. Population growth,
rapid development and indiscriminate and excessive use of water have resulted in
great depletion and deterioration of water resources. Water bodies are being polluted
by discharge of sewages, industrial effluents and run-off water of the catchment
area. Therefore, it is a clarion call to take necessary initiatives to maintain
& restore the sanctity of water bodies.
The Hon'ble NGT, Principal Bench, New Delhi
registered application no. 673/2018 on the basis of news item dated-17.09.2018 in
"The Hindu" under the heading "More river stretches are now critically polluted:
CPCB''. According to news item CPCB identified a total of 302 polluted river stretches
in the country during 2015 which have since increased to 351. The polluted river
stretches have been divided into five priority categories i.e. I, II, III, IV &
V.
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Priority I
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BOD greater than or equal to 30 mg/L
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Priority II
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BOD between 20-30 mg/L
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Priority III
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BOD between 10-20 mg/
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Priority IV
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BOD between 06-10 mg/L
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Priority V
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BOD between 03-06 mg/L
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Priority I BOD greater than or equal to 30 mg/L Priority II BOD between 20-30
mg/L Priority III BOD between 10-20 mg/L Priority IV BOD between 06-10 mg/L Priority
V BOD between 03-06 mg/L. Out of 302 polluted river stretches those identified in
the State of Bihar are river Sirisia at Raxaul (Priority-III), Parmar along Jogbani
(Priority-V), Punpun at Fatuha (Priority-V), Ramrekha at Harinagar (Priority-V),
Sikrahna at Narkatiaganj Priority-V) and Ganga (Priority-V).
In compliance of the
order of the Hon'ble NGT dated-20.09.2018 in O.A. no. 673/2018 in the matter of
News item published in the Hindu Authored by Sri Jacob Koshy titled "More river
stretches are now critically polluted: CPCB'' all the States have to prepare action
plan within two months for making all the polluted river stretches fit at least
for bathing purposes (i.e. BOD <3mg/L and FC <500 MPN/100ml) within six months from
the date of finalization of the action plans.
In compliance of the order, River
Rejuvenation Committee (RRC) has been constituted by the Department of Environment,
Forest & Climate Change, Govt. of Bihar vide notification no. 1412(E), dated-31.12.2018
including Director, Ecology & Environment, Department of Environment, Forest & Climate
Change, Govt. of Bihar; Special Secretary, Urban Development & Housing Department,
Govt. of Bihar; Director Industries, Department of Industry, Govt. of Bihar & Member
Secretary, Bihar State Pollution Control Board, Patna as members. The 1st meeting
of the River Rejuvenation Committee (RRC) was held on 07.01.2019 to formulate action
plan including the components desired by the Hon'ble NGT for the aforesaid polluted
river stretch in Bihar. The Hon'ble NGT has directed action plan will include components
like:- a) Identification of polluting sources including functioning/status of STPs/ETPs/CETPs
and solid waste management & processing facilities, quantification and characterization
of solid waste, trade and sewage generated in the catchment area of the polluted
river stretch; b) Issues relating to ground water extraction, adopting good irrigation
practices, protection and management of Flood Plain Zones (FPZ), rain water harvesting,
ground water charging maintaining minimum environmental flow of river; c) Plantation
on both sides of the river, setting up of bio-diversity parks on flood plain by
removing encroachment ; and d) Proper interception and diversion of sewage carrying
drains to the Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) and utilization of treated sewage to
as to minimize of extraction of ground or surface water.
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