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In Prayagraj, 10 sewage treatment plants (STP) with a total capacity of 340 million litres per day (MLD) were operational to treat the sewage generated during the Mahakumbh Mela 2025, Union Minister of State for Jal Shakti Raj Bhushan Choudhary told the Rajya Sabha.
During pre-Kumbh monitoring, 78 first-order drains were assessed—44 were tapped, while 34 remained untapped. Subsequently, all untapped drains were addressed, with wastewater being diverted and treated through STPs or Geo-Tube Advanced Oxidation Technology to ensure that no untreated wastewater was discharged into the rivers in Prayagraj, the minister said.
For sanitation during the mela, a sufficient number of fiber reinforced plastic toilets, prefab steel toilets, and urinals were deployed, along with arrangements for the collection, conveyance, and treatment of sewage/wastewater through existing STPs and the development of faecal sludge treatment plants, Choudhary stated.
A comprehensive solid waste management system, including waste bins, tippers, compactors, and an adequate number of Swachhagrahis [foot soldiers of the Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen)], was implemented. The entire waste management system was monitored through an integrated command and control centre and third-party inspection agencies, the Rajya Sabha was told.
Following an order from the National Green Tribunal (NGT), the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) conducted regular water quality monitoring at seven locations along the stretch from Shringverpur Ghat (upstream of Prayagraj) to Deehaghat (downstream of Prayagraj), including the Sangam Nose (the confluence of the Ganga and Yamuna), twice a week from 12 January 2025, Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav told the Lok Sabha.
This monitoring covered Amrit Snan (auspicious bathing) days as well as pre- and post-bathing periods.
The CPCB submitted its initial monitoring report to the NGT on February 3, 2025, detailing river water quality data collected between January 12 and 26 , 2025, including the monitoring results of 10 STPs installed in Prayagraj and seven geosynthetic dewatering tubes (geo-tubes) used for filtration.
Additionally, from February 21, 2025, CPCB increased monitoring frequency to twice daily and added three more water quality monitoring locations, bringing the total to 10, Yadav stated.
The government notified the Pradhan Mantri JI-VAN (Jaiv Indhan-Vatavaran Anukool Fasal Awasheh Nivaran) Yojana in 2019, which was amended in 2024, to provide financial support for integrated bio-ethanol projects and establish advanced biofuel projects using lignocellulosic biomass and other renewable feedstock, Union Minister of State for Petroleum & Natural Gas Suresh Gopi told the Rajya Sabha.
Under this scheme, a total of 14 commercial-scale proposals and eight demonstration-scale proposals were submitted for approval, of which eight commercial-scale proposals and four demonstration-scale proposals have been approved. No proposal has been received from the state of Rajasthan under this scheme, Gopi stated.
An estimated 1,93,357 people are likely to be affected by the Polavaram irrigation project, including 1,75,275 in undivided Andhra Pradesh (combined Andhra Pradesh and Telangana), 6,316 in Odisha, and 11,766 in Chhattisgarh, Choudhary told the Rajya Sabha.
Those affected are being compensated in accordance with the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013.
According to the fifth cycle of leopard population estimation conducted in 2022, Madhya Pradesh has the highest leopard population in India, followed by Maharashtra, Union Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Kirti Vardhan Singh told the Lok Sabha. The estimated leopard population stands at 3,907 in Madhya Pradesh and 1,985 in Maharashtra.
According to Kerala’s revised State Action Plan on Climate Change for the period 2023-2030, the state has experienced a moderate warming trend in both summer and winter seasons, along with a decline in annual rainfall, Singh told the Lok Sabha.
Projections indicate an increase in rainfall during the pre-monsoon, monsoon, and winter seasons. Additionally, extreme weather events, such as heavy rainfall, are expected to become more frequent across all districts.
A total of 10,909 incidents of stubble burning were reported in Punjab during the paddy stubble burning season from September 15 to November 30, 2024, Singh told the Lok Sabha. The total environmental compensation collected from farmers for stubble burning in the state during this period amounted to Rs 1,48,03,000 (₹1.48 crore).
As of December 2024, Rs 94,843.60 crore has been received from various user agencies as compensatory levies for the diversion of forest land for non-forest use since the inception of Ad-hoc Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority or CAMPA, Singh told the Lok Sabha.
These compensatory levies are utilised for afforestation and improving forest quality to offset the loss of forest land and ecosystem services. The funds are maintained in the public account of India and the public accounts of respective states and Union Territories.