Not Just the Plains — Rivers in Hill States Also Heavily Polluted

CPCB identifies over 300 polluted river stretches across India; Maharashtra tops the list with 54

 

River pollution in India is no longer confined to the plains. A recent assessment by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) reveals that water at nearly 300 locations across the country has become dangerously contaminated — including rivers flowing through the hilly regions of Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, and Jharkhand.

 

According to the CPCB’s latest report titled “Polluted River Stretches for Restoration of Water Quality,”271 rivers in India are now polluted across 296 sites. The states of Maharashtra, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh lead the list, with the CPCB warning that even once-pristine Himalayan rivers are now facing degradation.

 

States with the Highest Number of Polluted River Stretches

State	Polluted River Locations
Maharashtra	54
Kerala	31
Madhya Pradesh	18
Manipur	18
Uttar Pradesh	17
Bihar	12
Uttarakhand	12
West Bengal	10
Jharkhand	10
Himachal Pradesh	9
Rajasthan	7
Jammu & Kashmir	6
Chhattisgarh	6
Haryana	2
Punjab	2

 

Alarming Findings

The report highlights that water quality in these rivers fails to meet the prescribed standards under the Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) indicator. In many rivers, BOD levels exceed the safe limit of 3 mg per litre, indicating severe organic pollution and depletion of dissolved oxygen — both harmful to aquatic life and human health.

 

Experts from CPCB attribute the pollution to two main causes — natural factors like soil erosion and floods, and human activities such as untreated sewage discharge, industrial effluents, and dumping of solid waste.

“Many rivers are witnessing large-scale contamination due to human negligence. Public awareness is essential to restore their natural flow and quality,” said Dr. Anil Gupta, Member, CPCB.

 

Hill States No Longer Immune

Even states traditionally known for their clean rivers are now facing serious pollution challenges. In Uttarakhand and Bihar, 12 rivers each are reported polluted; Himachal Pradesh and Jharkhand have 9–10 polluted locations.

 

The CPCB emphasizes the urgent need for effective waste management, industrial effluent treatment, and community-based river cleaning programs to restore the ecological health of India’s rivers — from the Yamuna in Delhi to the Alaknanda and Mandakini in Uttarakhand.

 

A National Wake-Up Call

Environmentalists warn that unchecked river pollution threatens not only aquatic biodiversity but also the drinking water sources of millions of people. Experts are urging for comprehensive monitoring, stricter enforcement of effluent norms, and public participation in river conservation efforts.