As many as 19 rivers have been identified as polluted in Odisha based on the value of biochemical oxygen demand (BOD).
Union Minister of State for Jal Shakti Minister Tattan Lal Kataria revealed this in Lok Sabha in a written reply to a question of BJP member Jual Oram on Thursday.
“As per latest report of the Central Pollution Control Board (CRCB), 19 rivers have been identified as polluted in Odisha based on the value of bio-chemical oxygen demand (BOD),” said the Minister.
The rivers are Gangua, Guradih Nullah, Kathajodi, Nandirajhor, Daya, Kuakhai, Banguru Nullah, Bheden, Brahmani, Budhabalanga, Kusumi, Mahanadi, Mangala, Nagavalli, Luna, Ratnachira, Rushikulya, Sabulia and Serua.
The stretch from Rourkela to Biritol of the Brahmani river is one of the identified polluted river stretches of priority V (BoD level in the range of 3-6 mg/l), informed the Minister.
While Oram had wanted to know steps taken to clean the Brahmani river, Kataria said that Centre is supplementing the efforts of the State Governments, including Odisha, in abatement of pollution of identified stretches of various rivers under the Centrally-sponsored scheme of National River Conservation Plan (NRCP), on cost-sharing basis between the Centre and States.
The Ministry has sanctioned projects at a cost of Rs 279.9 lakh for pollution abatement of the Brahmani. Under the project, works pertaining to interception and diversion of sewage, sewage treatment plant (STP), river front development etc have been implemented and a STP having capacity of 2 million litre per day (MLD) has been created in the state, Kataria said.
Notably, in the recently-concluded Assembly session, Forests and Environment Minister Bikram Keshari Arukha had informed that 19 natural watercourses that pass along urban areas in the State were identified as polluted.
Even though, the sewage treatment plant for each urban locality along the rivers is not mandatory, the State Government is setting up such facilities at Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Sambalpur, Talcher and Rourkela through Odisha Water Supply and Sewerage Board (OWSSB), he had told the Assembly.
