The Central Monitoring Committee (CMC) on Tuesday highlighted that significant progress has been made in river rejuvenation efforts across several states, but gaps in sewage treatment capacity, non-compliant sewage treatment plants, and inadequate progress in certain industrial pollution management projects persist, the Ministry of Jal Shakti informed on Wednesday.
The 20th edition of the meeting, chaired by Debashree Mukherjee, Secretary, Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation (DoWR, RD, GR), was attended by senior officials of several departments relevant to the initiatives.
During the meeting, the department’s Secretary underlined that rejuvenation of rivers is not only an ecological priority but also a social and economic necessity.
Mukherjee further stressed the urgency of advancing floodplain zone, completing ongoing sewage and solid waste management projects, enforcing compliance of sewage treatment plants (STPs) and common effluent treatment plants (CETPs), and adopting innovative measures for reuse of treated wastewater across 15 states.
She emphasised that the efforts of all states must be solution-oriented and aimed at sustainable interventions to improve river water quality and ecosystem health.
The Committee noted upward trend in the reduction of polluted river stretches in several states between 2018 and 2022, with Sikkim emerging as a state with no polluted river stretches in the latest CPCB assessment.
Progress was also highlighted in states such as Assam and Punjab, which have initiated steps for demarcation of floodplains and removal of encroachments, thereby addressing one of the critical challenges of river rejuvenation.
In Odisha, the reuse of treated wastewater, groundwater regulation measures, and flood management initiatives, such as the diversion of stormwater from Chandaka catchment in Bhubaneswar, were appreciated.
Punjab’s efforts in commissioning projects for the utilisation of treated wastewater and its notification of floodplain zones for the river Satluj were also noted as significant achievements.
Maharashtra reported measures for large-scale recycling of treated sewage, particularly mandating reuse in infrastructure projects, while Meghalaya and Mizoram showcased progress under ‘Swachh Bharat Mission 2.0’ in strengthening solid waste management systems.
Sikkim was commended for its comprehensive approach towards waste segregation, composting, and adoption of zero liquid discharge by industries.
The Secretary also urged the officials to convene regular meetings of River Rejuvenation Committees to maintain accountability and consistent progress monitoring.
The meeting concluded with a call for collective responsibility by all participating states to work towards achieving the vision of a pollution-free and resilient river ecosystem.