RIVER REJUVENATIONS

Ministry of Jal Shakti

RIVER REJUVENATIONS

Posted On: 16 MAR 2026 6:23PM by PIB Delhi

Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), in association with Pollution Control Board/ Committees in different States/Union Territories (UTs), have been monitoring the water quality of rivers and other water bodies through a network of monitoring stations under the National Water Quality Monitoring Programme.

Accordingly, CPCB publishes reports on Polluted River Stretches (PRSs) on periodic basis. As per the report published by CPCB in 2025 based on water quality data of 2022 & 2023, 296 polluted stretches were identified on 271 rivers that includes main rivers and tributaries in the country. The state-wise number of polluted river locations and polluted river stretches identified are at Annexure –I.

The number of PRSs has decreased from 351 in the year 2018 to 296 in the year 2025. Further, 149 PRSs have been delisted and improvement in water quality of 71 polluted river stretches have been observed in 2025 as compared to the report published in 2018. The state-wise numbers of PRSs delisted and improvement observed are at Annexure –II.

CPCB at present monitors water quality of aquatic resources at 4922 locations across the country which includes 2260 locations on rivers, including main rivers and tributaries.

Cleaning/rejuvenation of rivers is a continuous process. ‘Water’ is a State subject. However, the Ministry of Jal Shakti supplements the efforts of State Governments/UTs by providing financial and technical assistance for pollution abatement of river Ganga and its tributaries through Namami Gange Programme and for all other rivers through National River Conservation Plan (NRCP). In addition, sewerage infrastructure is created under programmes like Atal Mission for Rejuvenation & Urban Transformation (AMRUT) and Smart Cities Mission of Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs. Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) scheme indirectly contributes to the cleaning of rivers through permissible activities like desilting, afforestation, construction of check-dams, cleaning & restoration of water bodies etc.

Under Namami Gange program, advanced survey technologies like LiDAR, UAV and Drone based Surveys etc. have been used in certain areas of Ganga basin. A Drain Dashboard has also been developed to provide authentic videographic visualization and mapping of outfalls on Ganga mainstem. The dashboard provides geo-tagged information and enables state and district-level authorities to monitor pollution sources, prioritize interventions and respond effectively.

The information was provided by THE MINISTER OF JAL SHAKTI SHRI C R PATIL in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha today.

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ND

(Rajya Sabha SQ 253)

ANNEXURE-I

State-wise number of polluted river locations and polluted river stretches identified

ANNEXURE-II

(a) State-wise number of PRS delisted

(b) State-wise number of PRS where improvement in water quality observed

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