Discharge of Waste into Ganga and its Tributeries The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has inventorized 764 Grossly polluting industries discharging 501 mld of trade effluent directly or indirectly into the drains reaching the river Ganga and its tributaries. The CPCB has also identified 144 drains along the main stem of river Ganga, discharging about 6614 mld of sewage/waste water. The CPCB has issued directions under section 5 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 to 200 industries and under section 18 (1) (b) of Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 to 178 units. The Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board (UPPCB) has issued closure directions, to 98 tannery units. The CPCB has issued directions for the installation of real time monitoring by the units before June 30, 2015. The CPCB has also issued time bound directions for the implementation of Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) sector wise to prevent the discharge of effluent into the river Ganga. This information was given by Union Minister of State for Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation Prof. Sanwar Lal Jat in a written reply in Rajya Sabha today. Samir/jk
