Not just Musi, Godavari, Krishna, six other rivers polluted in Telangana
Hyderabad: It is not just Musi river that is polluted in Telangana. While Musi is the most polluted, according to the Union Minister for Environment, Forests and Climate Change, Bhupender Yadav, nine rivers in Telangana have been polluted to varying degrees.
Citing a Central Pollution Control Board report on river pollution from 2022, the Union Minister said major factors related to pollution in rivers were discharge of untreated or partially treated sewage from cities and towns, and industrial effluents, improper solid waste management, problems in operation and maintenance of sewage/effluent treatment plants, lack of dilution and other non-point sources of pollution.
According to the CPCB report cited by Yadav, in Telangana, different stretches of nine rivers were found polluted with higher than normal biological oxygen demand - the parameter used to establish how polluted a water body is. In India, a BOD of 3mg per litre of water is considered safe for bathing, while a BOD of 2mg per litre is considered clean fresh water while a BOD of 1 or less is considered pristine. As per 2022 CPCB report, Godavari is the second most polluted river in the state after Musi. The other rivers that have higher than normal BOD were Karakavagu, Kinnerasani, Krishna, Manair, Manjeera, Munneru, and Nakkavagu.
Yadav informed the Lok Sabha that his ministry, through the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE), Dehradun has prepared Detailed Project Reports for rejuvenation of thirteen major rivers through forestry interventions. These rivers include the Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Beas, Sutlej, Yamuna, Brahmaputra, Luni, Narmada, Godavari, Mahanadi, Krishna, and Cauvery. Yadav added that the DPRs were sent to the concerned state governments by his ministry back in 2022 for implementation.