NEW DELHI, september 23, 2025
The number of locations in Indian rivers unfit to bathe saw an incremental dip to 807 in 2023 from 815 in 2022, according to a report by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) made public on Monday. There was, however, a reduction in the number of river locations considered “most polluted”.
The agency monitors and compiles data in two-year phases on river health — specifically measuring a parameter called biological oxygen demand (BOD) of India’s rivers. BOD is proxy for organic matter dissolved in water with a low number indicating a healthy river. A BOD greater than 3 milligrams per litre indicates rising pollution and is considered unfit for bathing.
Two continuous locations exceeding the criterion in a single river is counted as a ‘polluted river stretch’ (PRS).
PRS of rivers
In 2023, there were 296 PRS/locations found in 271 rivers. In 2022, there were 311 PRS/locations in 279 rivers.
Maharashtra (54) had the highest number of PRS or locations followed by Kerala (31), Madhya Pradesh and Manipur with 18 each, and Karnataka (14). However, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand had the highest number — five — of stretches or locations in ‘Priority 1’.
In the 2022 assessment, Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh had the highest number of ‘Priority 1’ river stretches (6), Maharashtra had the highest number of polluted river stretches at 55, followed by Madhya Pradesh (19), Bihar (18), Kerala (18), Karnataka (17), and Uttar Pradesh (17).
PRS with a BOD exceeding 30 mg per litre are considered ‘Priority 1’, meaning, the most polluted and thus needing urgent remediation. In the latest assessment, the number of ‘Priority 1’ stretches reduced to 37 from 45 over the 2022 assessment.
The CPCB network monitors water quality at 4,736 locations across the country including rivers, lakes, creeks, drains and canals.
0 comments:
Post a Comment