Context:
The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) released its 2023 assessment of river water quality, focusing on Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) as a key indicator. Rivers with BOD > 3 mg/litre are deemed unfit for bathing.
Key Highlights:
Overall Status
- Unfit River Locations:
- 2023 → 807 locations
- 2022 → 815 locations
- Polluted River Stretches (PRS):
- 2023 → 296 PRS across 271 rivers
- 2022 → 311 PRS across 279 rivers
State-wise PRS (2023)
- Maharashtra – 54 (highest in India)
- Kerala – 31
- Madhya Pradesh – 18
- Manipur – 18
- Karnataka – 14
‘Priority 1’ Stretches (Most Polluted, BOD > 30 mg/litre)
- 2023: 37 stretches
- 2022: 45 stretches
- Top States (2023): Tamil Nadu (5), Uttar Pradesh (5), Uttarakhand (5)
- Top States (2022): Gujarat (6), Uttar Pradesh (6)
CPCB Monitoring Network
- Total monitoring stations: 4,736 locations
- Coverage: Rivers, lakes, creeks, drains, canals
