A study conducted by the World Bank in 2013 estimated that environmental
degradation is costing India at least $80 billion a year, of which losses of
rivers remains a significant part.
Rivers- and Pollution
The Central Pollution Control Board about Indian river is
worrisome. The reason behind worry is that even after there is huge pressure to
save the water and river, and there are numerous programmes which ran to
protect river, but the outcome is threatening. The critically polluted rivers
have risen from 351 to 302.
This does highlight the inefficient work of government
departments, the social behavior and upcoming problems.
Read about - The Green Agriculture Project
Read about - The Green Agriculture Project
What to understand by the report?
There have been various ‘non-working’ rules to control waste
management, which are the major source of pollution in rivers.
The failure of many national programmes run by the central government
for river conservation, preservation of wetlands and water quality monitoring.
There was a huge amount
given to Uttar Pradesh State of India, which scored a little better than
other states who did not get funds to clean rivers.
States like Mahratshtra, Gujarat, Assam has higher level of
pollution and degraded river segment as poor infrastructure remain as main
problem around rivers.
The central pollution board should audit rivers more
frequently, but it was done at the instance of National Green Tribunal.
The central Pollution board should carry out intensive
measures through the state pollution control boards to eliminate pollutants,
starting with sewage and industrial effluents.
What are the challenges in cleaning rivers?
A huge funding gap remains the problem, as well as lack of
infrastructure development.
Rapid urbanization is also putting pressure on the ecosystem
of rivers. The lethargic attitude of State Pollution Control Boards and
Pollution control committees remain a matter of concern. The industrial discharge to zero has to be attained
vigorously, giving industries help.
Government agencies do fail at administrative front but somewhere social attitude is also 'unchanged' when it comes to various religious practices and due to those practices rivers are ruined more.
What is Central Pollution Control Board?
Central pollution control Board is a statuary (Made by the parliament, not originally written in the constitution) body under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. It was established in 1974 under the Water( Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974.
It serves as a field- formation and technical service provider.
It also coordinate with state pollution control boards, and provides them technical assistance and guidance.
The main work of the CPCB is to monitor water, and air quality pollution data, and help in running voluntary pollution prevention programs and energy conservation efforts.
