Question raised in Lok Sabha on Pollution in Rivers, 21/06/2019. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) in association with State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs)/ Pollution Control Committees (PCCs) monitors the water quality of rivers across the country through a network of monitoring stations under the National Water Quality Monitoring Programme. The criteria/norms of standard level water pollution for major rivers are generally based on Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD)levels, a key indicator of organic pollution. These criteria have been categorized into five priority classes based on BOD concentration (viz. Category I: exceeding to BOD levels >30 mg/l; Category II: BOD between 20&30 mg/l; Category III: BOD between 10&20mg/l; Category IV: BOD between 6-10 mg/l, and Category V: BOD between 3& 6 mg/l).As per the report published by CPCB, in September 2018, the 351 rivers stretches on 323 rivers are identified as polluted river stretches, based on the Bio-chemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) level. The State-wise details of polluted river stretches are at Annexure.
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