the recently-released comptroller and auditor general (cag) 2000 report has revealed that river pollution is on the rise as sewage finds its way into river bodies and pollution parameters are being flouted. The report says that in Haryana, 611 of 2,867 polluting units identified were functioning without permission. In Karnataka, 6,891 industries needed consent. In Himachal Pradesh, only one of 58 municipal committees had similar permission from the state pollution control board (spcb).

According to the report, the performance record of the spcbs has also been dismal. These boards have failed to take to task the industries which were flouting rules. There were "significant shortfalls' in actual inspection of the polluting units by the state board inspectors, the report added.

Several states, including Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Kerala, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, have failed to complete the process of identifying the polluting units.