Over ₹5,800 crore has been sanctioned for pollution abatement at 34 river stretches in 16 States across the country, excluding River Ganga, the Environment Ministry has said. Out of the total of ₹5,870 crore sanctioned under the National River Conservation Plan (NRCP), the Centre has released its share of ₹2,522 crore to States, Minister of State for Environment Babul Supriyo recently told the Lok Sabha. NRCP has covered polluted stretches of 34 rivers in 77 towns spread over 16 States at a sanctioned cost of ₹5870.55 crore, the Minister of State said while responding to a query in this regard. In the last one year, ₹143 crore has been released to nine States for pollution abatement in rivers under NRCP, the Minister said. 351 stretches of polluted rivers have been identified by the apex pollution body.

Source: The Hindu July 21, 2019 08:26 UTC