MoEF approves over 5,800 crore for cleaning 34 polluted rivers

NEW DELHI: In order to curb river pollution, more than Rs 5,800 crore has been sanctioned for 34 river stretches in 16 states across the country, excluding river Ganga, said the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF).

Babul Supriyo, Minister of State for Environment, said that the Centre has released its share of Rs 2,522 crore out of Rs 5,800 crore to states under the National River Conservation Plan (NRCP).

Project proposals are received from states from time to time for taking up pollution reduction works in town along various rivers and are considered for financial assistance under the NRCP.

Rs 143 crore has been released to nine states to curb river pollution in the last one year under NRCP, said Supriyo.

The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) in association with State Pollution Control Boards, monitors the water quality of rivers on a regular basis.

The environment ministry said that it has released Rs 181 crores to 20 states for pollution abatement in lakes and wetlands in the last three years, with Rs 1.58 crore being released in the current financial year so far.

According to the minister, the Ministry is currently implementing a centrally sponsored scheme named National Plan for Conservation of Aquatic Eco-systems (NPCA) under which 180 wetlands including lakes have been prioritised for conservation and management