National River Conservation Plan

Subject: Environment

Context:

There is inordinate delay in completion of projects to control pollution in two riversTapi and Sabarmathi in Gujarat, which is part of the National River Conservation Plan.

Concept:

• The river cleaning programme in the country initiated with the launching of the Ganga Action Plan (GAP) in 1985.
• The Ganga Action Plan was expanded to cover other rivers under National River Conservation Plan (NRCP) in the year 1995.
• The pollution abatement works are implemented on a cost sharing basis between the Centre and State Governments.
• The works include; collection, transportation and treatment of municipal sewage, River Front Development (RFD), Low Cost Sanitation (LCS), Electric Crematoria, Improved Wood Based Crematoria etc.
• Prevention and control of industrial pollution is being addressed by the Central and State Pollution Control Boards/Pollution Control Committee.
• The objective of NRCP is to improve the water quality of the rivers, which are the major water sources in the country, through the implementation of pollution abatement works.