India's Polluted River Stretches Fall From 351 to 296 in Seven Years
The number of polluted river stretches in India declined from 351 in 2018 to 296 in 2025, based on biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) — a key indicator of organic pollution — the government informed the Rajya Sabha. Minister of State for Jal Shakti Raj Bhushan Choudhary said the count had fallen to 311 in 2022 before dropping further to 296, per the latest Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) report. Rivers are polluted mainly by untreated sewage, industrial effluents, solid waste and agricultural runoff. The CPCB monitors water quality through 2,265 stations under the National Water Quality Monitoring Programme, and the government has spent ₹11,332 crore under Namami Gange and ₹1,888 crore under the National River Conservation Plan.
Key Facts & Details
8 points- 1Polluted river stretches fell from 351 (2018) to 296 (2025), measured by BOD.
- 2The figure had dropped to 311 in 2022 before reaching 296, per the CPCB.
- 3MoS Jal Shakti Raj Bhushan Choudhary shared the data in the Rajya Sabha.
- 4Main pollution sources: untreated sewage, industrial effluents, solid waste and agricultural runoff.
- 5The CPCB monitors quality via 2,265 stations under the National Water Quality Monitoring Programme.
Deep Dive
- +₹11,332 crore has been spent under Namami Gange and ₹1,888 crore under the National River Conservation Plan.
- +Biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) measures the oxygen microbes need to break down organic matter — higher BOD means more pollution.
- +River-cleaning also involves the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs' sewage-treatment schemes.
Exam Focus
Which indicator is used to identify polluted river stretches in the CPCB's assessment?
Exam Relevance & Angle
River-pollution data, the CPCB's monitoring role and flagship programmes like Namami Gange are recurring environment general-awareness themes, and the declining count is a concrete, testable figure.
Target Exams
Background & Context
Biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) is the amount of oxygen that microorganisms need to break down organic matter in water; a high BOD signals heavy organic pollution and low dissolved oxygen for aquatic life. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the apex pollution watchdog under the environment ministry, identifies 'polluted river stretches' where BOD exceeds safe limits, using a nationwide network of monitoring stations. Cleaning them up is the goal of programmes like Namami Gange and the National River Conservation Plan.
Test Yourself
1 / 2The number of polluted river stretches in India declined to how many in 2025, according to the CPCB?
Source
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