PUNE: Maharashtra represented the greatest variety of contaminated river stretches in the nation at 55 in 2022, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) stated in its current report recognizing almost 311 polluted stretches in a network of 279 rivers across India.As per CPCB, Maharashtra is likewise one of the 13 states in the country where the variety of contaminated river stretches has actually increased, including Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, among others.
In 2018, it had 53 contaminated river stretches, the organisation said.A CPCB authorities told TOI, The state contamination control panel have actually been directed to guarantee obligatory environmental flow in all contaminated stretches.
Ecological flow pertains to the minimum circulation required to be preserved in a river to guarantee optimal conditions for the existing communities.
He stated the study was a periodic assessment of water quality of rivers in the nation and determined surpassing levels of Bio-Chemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) in these stretches.
We identified polluted river stretches where water quality did not meet the main BOD requirements for outside bathing.
Body in such stretches was more than 3mg/L.
Higher BOD shows requirement of more oxygen and symbolizes lower water quality.
The official stated all such river stretches were found polluted due to the fact that of the discharge of sewage and commercial contaminants.
Of the sewage discharged in rivers, we found that quantum of unattended sewage way more than that of cured sewage.
While factories need to mandatorily deal with industrial effluents in effluent treatment plants (ETPs) prior to discharging them into the water bodies, a lot of cities do not have the facilities for treatment of domestic sewage.
This is one of the major causes for pollution in the rivers.
He said an action strategy has been made and approved by CPCB to resolve this issue.Water specialist Himanshu Thakkar, who is likewise the planner of South Asia Network on Dams, Rivers and People, stated, Maharashtra is the most industrialised state and has many markets, which might be contributing to river pollution.
Its substantial city population has also put a lot of stress on the rivers, in regards to discharge of without treatment domestic sewage into water bodies.
Thakkar stated polluted rivers can have a major effect on the water life, flora and fauna in the rivers.
As a part of the monitoring workout, the water quality of 56 rivers in Maharashtra was kept track of by CPCB.
As many as 147 locations on 55 rivers in the state did not comply with the prescribed water quality requirements in terms of BOD levels.
The names of some contaminated rivers consisted of Amba, Amravati, Bhatsa, Bhima, Bindusara, Bori, Burai, Chandrabhaga, Koyna, Krishna, Kundalika, Manjeera and Mula-Mutha, among others.