According to a report published by Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), out of 38254 MLD of sewage generated by class I cities and class II towns, only 11787 MLD was treated. CPCB reassessed sewage generation and treatment capacity for urban population of India for the year 2015. Estimated sewage generation was 61948 MLD approximately and sewage treatment capacity developed so far was only 23277 MLD. Sewage generation for 46 million plus cities is estimated to 33099 MLD. The water quality of recipient water bodies in the catchment of each million plus city are deteriorating. This information was given by Minister of State in the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Shri Babul Supriyo yesterday in written reply in the Lok Sabha.
According to the Minister “Rapid urbanization creates pressure on natural resources and environment. Sustainable management of urban environment requires collective efforts of Central and State Government.”
Sewage generated by major cities in India
| City | Sewage Generation (in MLD) | Sewage treatment capacity (in MLD) | No of sewage treatment plants |
| Bengaluru | 2182 | 721 | 16 |
| Chennai | 1129 | 608 | 9 |
| Delhi | 4399 | 2693.7 | 40 |
| Hyderabad | 854 | 657.3 | 13 |
| Kolkata | 3461 | 328.2 | 0 |
| Mumbai | 2772 | 2600.9 | 8 |
The city of Kolkata has to its credit a distinction of discharging largest quantity of untreated sewage to river (Hoogly). While Kolkata discharges 3133 MLD of untreated sewage to Hoogly river, Delhi comes second with a discharge of 1705 MLD to Yamuna river. Mumbai, on the other hand, discharges only 171 MLD of untreated sewage to Mithi river.
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC), had imposed temporary moratorium on consideration of new projects /expansion of existing projects for environmental clearance in 43 Critically Polluted Areas, vide Office Memorandum, dated 13.01.2010. As per the direction of MoEF&CC, remedial Action Plans were formulated by concerned State Pollution Control Boards for the CPAs falling under their jurisdiction. The progress made in the implementation of these action plans were periodically reviewed by the Local Committees and it is noted that the effective implementation of these action plans helped in the restoration of environmental quality of these 43 areas, said the Minister in his reply.
