Gujarat : 25 locations on 13 rivers are highly polluted with respect to BOD

Surat (Gujarat) : The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)  has identified 25 locations on 13 rivers in Gujarat not complying with the prescribed Water Quality Criteria with respect to the Bio-Chemical Oxygen Deman (BOD). While Sabarmati river has the highest BOD level of 292, Tapi river is less pollution with 3.4 BOD levels.

The CPCB monitored water quality of 25 rivers in Gujarat at 64 locations during the year 2019 to 2021, out of which, 25 locations on 13 rivers were found non-complying to the prescribed water quality criteria with respect to BOD. The names of 13 polluted rivers are Amlakhadi, Bhadar, Bhogavo, Bhukhi Khadi, Damanganga, Dhadar, Khari, Mahi, Mindhola, Sabarmati,Shedhi, Tapi and Vishwamitri.

For identification of polluted river stretches, the water quality data for river monitoring locations is reviewed and the monitoring locations non-compliant with the desired criteria for BOD i.e. > 3.0 mg/L are identified as polluted locations. Two or more polluted locations identified on a river in a continuous sequence are considered as a stretch and defined as Polluted River Stretch.

CPCB executes National Water Quality Monitoring Programme (NWMP) for assessment of water quality of aquatic resources in the country. The assessment indicates that organic and microbial contamination of aquatic resources is a major concern for both rivers and static water bodies.

According to the CPCB report, Amalkhadi in Ankleshwar has the BOD level of 49 followed by 258.6 BOD in Bhadar river, 195 BOD in Khari river, 28 BOD in Mindhola river, 38 BOD in Vishwamitri, 12 BOD in Mahi river, 5.3 BOD in Damanganga river, 6 BOD in Bhogavo river etc.