302 filthy river stretches in India, says central pollution body

In the 275 rivers that were examined based on bio-chemical oxygen demand levels, 302 river stretches have been identified. These levels are key indicator of organic pollution, as told by Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar said today.

Javadekar said that the Water Resources Information System database, which has been developed by Central Water Commission along with Indian Space Research Organisation, includes 15,615 identified rivers and streams in India.

He further added that it is a collective responsibility of the state governments and concerned local bodies to set up proper facilities so that sewage can be collected, transported and treated, to make sure that untreated sewage does not reach the rivers and pollute them.

"The Ministry has been supplementing the efforts of the state governments in abatement of pollution in identified stretches of various rivers under National River Conservation Plan and National Ganga River Basin Authority programme," the minister added.

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