Question

Analyse the conditions of rainfall water
bedies [ such as rivers , lakes, seas etc]
India against those in a developed nation
on the parameter of aquatic life, sewage disposal
and pollution​

Answer 1

WATER QUALITY MONITORING IN INDIAACHIEVEMENTS AND CONSTRAINTS

R.M.Bhardwaj, Scientist ‘C’

Central Pollution Control Board,

India

Keywords: Water Quality, Pollution, DO,BOD, Total Coliform, Faecal Coliform

Abstract India is rich in water resources, being endowed with a network of rivers and

blessed with snow cover in the Himalayan range that can meet a variety of water requirements of the country. However, with the rapid increase in the population of the

country and the need to meet the increasing demands of irrigation, human and industrial

consumption, the available water resources in many parts of the country are getting depleted and the water quality has deteriorated. Indian rivers are polluted due to the discharge of untreated sewage and industrial effluents. The Central Pollution Control Board

(CPCB) has established a network of monitoring stations on rivers across the country.

The present network is comprising of 870 stations in 26 States and 5 Union Territories

spread over the country. The monitoring is done on monthly or quarterly basis in surface

waters and on half yearly basis in case of ground water. The monitoring network covers

189 Rivers, 53 Lakes, 4 Tanks, 2 Ponds, 3 Creeks, 3 Canals, 9 Drains and 218 Wells.

Among the 870 stations, 567 are on rivers, 55 on lakes, 9 on drains,12 on canals, 4 on

tank, 3 on and creeks,2 on pond and 218 are groundwater stations. The monitoring of water quality at 257 stations is being done on monthly basis, 393 stations on quarterly basis,

216 on half yearly basis and 4 stations on yearly basis. Presently the inland water qualitymonitoring network is operated under a three-tier programme i.e. GEMS, Monitoring of

Indian National Aquatic Resources System and Yamuna Action Plan. Water samples are

being analysed for 28 parameters consisting of physico-chemical and bacteriological parameters for ambient water samples apart from the field observations. Besides this, 9

trace metals and 15 pesticides are analysed in selected samples. Biomonitoring is also

carried out on specific locations. In view of limited resources, limited numbers of organic

pollution related parameters are chosen for frequent monitoring i.e. monthly or quarterly

and major cations, anions, other inorganic ions and micro pollutants (Toxic Metals &

POP’s) are analysed once in a year to keep a track of water quality over large period of

time. The water quality data are reported in Water Quality Statistics yearbooks. The water quality monitoring of major rivers indicates that organic pollution is predominant and

almost all the surface water sources are contaminated to some extent by Coliform Group

of Bacteria that make them unfit for human consumption unless disinfected. The grossly

polluted rivers on specific stretches are Sabarmati, Godavari, Satluj, Yamuna, Cauvery,

Ganga, Krishna, Tapi, Mahanadi and Brahmani whereas relatively clean rivers are Mahi,

Narmada, Brahmaputra and Beas with respect to organic and bacterial pollution.