New Delhi: As many as 19 rivers in Odisha have been identified as polluted.
The union minister of Jal Shati, Rattanlal Khataria, while replying to a question by BJP MP Juel Oram, told the Lok Sabha on Thursday that as per latest report of Central Pollution control Board (CPCB), 19 rivers have been identified as polluted in the State of Odisha based on the value of Bio-chemical Oxygen Demand (BoD). The nameof these rivers are Gangua, Guradih Nallah, Kathajodi, Nandirajhor, Daya, Kuakhai, Banguru Nallah, Bheden, Brahmani, Budhabalnaga, Kusumi, Mahanadi, Mangala, Nagavalli, Nuna, Ratnachira,Rushikulya, Sabulia and Serua.
The minister said, the stretch from Rourkela to Biritol of river Brahmani is one of the identified polluted river stretches of priority V (BoD level in the range of 3-6 mg/l). Central government is supplementing the efforts of the State governments including Odisha, inabatement 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 Central and State governments.
Stating that the ministry has sanctioned projects at a cost of Rs.279.9 lakhs for pollution abatement of river Brahmani in the State of Odisha, Khataria said, 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.
