311
Polluted stretches on 279 rivers (CPCB assessment, 2022)
Water with BOD above 3 mg/L. Down from 351 stretches in 2018.
Source: PIB, Ministry of Environment · 2022 · checked 13 November 2026Part of Greener India
Clean rivers
Rivers we can drink from, bathe in and be proud of.
Rivers we can drink from, bathe in and be proud of.
AI-generated illustrationWhat good looks like
Rivers we can drink from, bathe in and be proud of. Cities treat their sewage before it reaches the water, and factories cannot dump unseen.
- Cities that treat their sewage before it reaches the river
- Factories that cannot dump waste unseen
- River water quality published openly, stretch by stretch
Current problems
- Many river stretches are too polluted for drinking, bathing or fishing.
Evidence and data
72,368 vs 31,841
Sewage produced vs treatment capacity, million litres a day
CPCB, March 2021, as cited in a reply in the Rajya Sabha. Less than half is covered.
Source: PIB (Jal Shakti): sewage generation and treatment capacity · 2021 · checked 13 November 2026Figures from public reports; we are checking them against the latest releases.
Why this matters
Rivers supply water and livelihoods to millions. Untreated sewage makes water unsafe and harms river life.
Possible solutions
- 1
Treat sewage before it reaches the river
Build capacity where the gap is largest, and make sure plants run.
- 2
Publish river quality stretch by stretch
So progress can be checked by anyone.
- 3
Report dumping
Tell your State Pollution Control Board or file on CPGRAMS.
Positive Indian examples
We are collecting verified examples for this pillar. We publish an example only when it has a source.
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