New Delhi, March 2 – The 21st Meeting of the Central Monitoring Committee (CMC) on river rejuvenation took place on Monday, where the latest status of polluted river stretches was reviewed based on the CPCB’s 2025 report, an official said.
The meeting was chaired by V. L. Kantha Rao, Secretary, Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, Ministry of Jal Shakti.
The Committee reviewed progress on sewage treatment plants, capacity utilization, floodplain zoning, reuse of treated wastewater, and institutional monitoring through River Rejuvenation Committees in relation to Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Delhi, Haryana, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Andaman & Nicobar, Lakshadweep, Odisha, Jammu and Kashmir, and Punjab.
The meeting was attended by senior officials including Rajeev Kumar Mital, Director General, National Mission for Clean Ganga, other officials of NMCG, and representatives of State Governments and State Pollution Control Boards.
While reviewing the latest status of polluted river stretches, the committee examined the progress made by States in implementing approved Action Plans.
The Chair emphasized that sustainable improvement in river water quality depends not only on the creation of infrastructure but also on its effective utilization, regulatory compliance, and timely project execution.
Key areas highlighted included bridging sewage treatment gaps, improving the performance of existing Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs), expediting ongoing and tendered STP projects and associated works on developing sewage networks, strengthening industrial pollution control, scaling up the reuse of treated wastewater, and accelerating floodplain demarcation.
The Secretary also directed the States to enable real-time monitoring to enhance transparency and accountability in pollution control efforts.
A comparative review of polluted river stretches identified in 2018, 2022, and 2025 showed a continued reduction in the overall number of polluted stretches since 2018.
However, the Committee noted that certain states have reported the addition of new polluted stretches and deterioration in specific river segments, calling for focused corrective action.
The meeting concluded with a call for states to adopt a time-bound, outcome-oriented approach to river rejuvenation, with emphasis on operational efficiency, inter-departmental coordination, and sustained compliance to achieve long-term water quality improvement.