New Delhi, Dec 15 (KNO): The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) is monitoring the water quality of 134 water bodies including rivers and lakes in Jammu and Kashmir under the National Water Quality Monitoring Programme (NWMP), the Centre informed the Lok Sabha on Monday.
Replying to an unstarred question, Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Kirti Vardhan Singh said that CPCB in coordination with State Pollution Control Boards and Pollution Control Committees, monitors water quality at 4,922 locations across the country including Jammu and Kashmir .
According to the data shared in the house, Jammu and Kashmir as pe the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) said that it has 63 river monitoring locations and 36 lake monitoring locations, besides groundwater and wetland sites, where periodic assessment of water quality is carried out to check pollution levels caused by sewage discharge, solid waste dumping and other factors .
The Minister further said CPCB regularly reviews water quality data of stagnant water bodies such as lakes and ponds and shares the assessment with concerned authorities for identification of pollution sources and corrective measures.
He added that legal provisions under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 are being enforced to protect lakes and other aquatic ecosystems in Jammu and Kashmir .
The Centre further informed that restoration and conservation of polluted water bodies is being supported through national programmes such as the National Plan for Conservation of Aquatic Ecosystems (NPCA) and AMRUT 2.0, which include activities like sewage treatment, desilting, bioremediation, shoreline protection, biodiversity conservation and community participation.
Jammu and Kashmir, like other States and UTs is eligible for assistance under these schemes for rejuvenation of its lakes and wetlands .
The government also said that the steps are being taken to strengthen monitoring and enforcement including installation of online continuous effluent monitoring systems in polluting industries and directions to concerned agencies to improve sewage treatment infrastructure to prevent further degradation of water bodies in J&K—(KNO)