All that was discussed in the House through the day
Energy from organic waste
Ninety-six waste-to-energy projects for generation of electricity based on urban, industrial, agricultural and municipal solid waste have been successfully established in the country, according to a statement given by the Union Ministry of Power in the Lok Sabha on December 5, 2019.
The statement said that during the last three years, funds to the tune of Rs 76 crore were allocated under the 'Waste-to-Energy' programme out of which, Rs 32.64 crore were released to various developers for setting up of Waste-to-Energy projects for generation of biogas/bioCNG/power.
In the current year, funds to the tune of Rs75 crore have been allocated under the Waste-to-Energy and Biomass programmes and Rs 0.82 crore have been released for setting up of Waste-to-Energy projects for generation of biogas/bioCNG/power till date.
Discharge of effluents into rivers
There are 2,743 grossly polluting industries in India which are discharging their effluents in various water bodies, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). Out of these, 2,497 are operational and 246 are self-closed. There are 2,222 complying and 275 non-complying units respectively, Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat told the Lok Sabha.
National River Conservation Plan
The National River Conservation Plan (NRCP) has so far covered polluted stretches of 34 rivers in 77 towns, spread over 16 states in the country, with a sanctioned cost of Rs 5870.54 crore, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat told the Lok Sabha.
A Central share of Rs 2,452.35 crore has been released to state governments for implementation of various pollution abatement schemes. A sewage treatment capacity of 2,522.03 mld has been created under the NRCP, resulting in the reduction of pollutants being discharged into various rivers, Shekhawat added.
Prevention of river pollution
According to the latest report of CPCB, 351 polluted river stretches have been identified on 323 rivers, based on the value of Bio-chemical Oxygen Demand. This is as against 302 polluted river stretches on 275 rivers identified during 2015, which can also be attributed to the strengthening of the monitoring network from 2,500 to 3,500 locations from 2015 to 2018, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat told the Lok Sabha.
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