Jammu and Kashmir has been allocated more than 99 crore in the past three financial years for projects under the National River Conservation Plan (NRCP), according to figures tabled in the Rajya Sabha. The disclosure came in response to a question on the operational status of sewage treatment plants (STPs) across India, their role in river pollution, and the financial support extended to states for upgrading or setting up such facilities.
The Ministry of Jal Shakti, in its reply, said that untreated and partially treated domestic sewage from towns and cities, along with industrial effluents and agricultural run-off, continue to be major contributors to river pollution nationwide. It acknowledged that improper operation and maintenance of existing STPs, coupled with rapid urbanisation and industrial growth, have exacerbated the challenge. While the primary responsibility for sewage treatment rests with states, the Centre supplements these efforts through schemes such as the NRCP for non-Ganga river basins and the Namami Gange programme for the Ganga basin.
In Jammu and Kashmir, the funding released under NRCP between 2022-23 and 2024-25 stood at precisely 99.0525 crore. The state does not fall under the Namami Gange programme but has benefitted from NRCP allocations, which are aimed at augmenting sewage infrastructure and improving operational efficiency of treatment plants. The Ministry did not specify the exact number of functional or non-functional STPs in Jammu and Kashmir but referred to the Central Pollution Control Board’s 2021 national inventory for detailed operational status.
Nationwide, the government has allocated 1,573.13 crore under NRCP and 7,900 crore under Namami Gange in the last three years. The Minister of State for Jal Shakti, Raj Bhushan Choudhary, said that the sanctioning of proposals depends on prioritisation by states, compliance with NRCP guidelines, and the commitment of project proponents to bear their share of costs and maintain the facilities thereafter.
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