150 stretches of river identified as polluted by CPCB

The Central Pollution Control Board has identified 150 polluted river stretches in the country with Maharashtra and Gujarat topping the list of having maximum of them.  

Based on the level of BOD (bio – chemical oxygen demand) in water, CPCB identified polluted river stretches across 293 rivers. The contaminants like utensils of daily use, according to the CPCB, were affecting aquatic environments.

The open drainage of sewage into various rivers across the country had polluted the rivers. These stretches are located in almost all parts of the country except Jammu & Kashmir and couple of Union Territories and northeastern states, including Arunachal Pradesh and Mizoram.
The Central pollution control board (CPCB) had first compiled its report on polluted river stretches in December 2009, after testing water samples taken between 1995 and 2008. These stretches are being monitored constantly since then through a network of 1429 water quality monitoring stations in States and UTs.  

About BOD
Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) refers to the amount of oxygen that would be consumed if all the organics in one liter of water were oxidized by bacteria and protozoa.

Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)
Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) of India is a statutory organisation under the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF).
 It was established in 1974 under Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974.
It is an apex organization in country in the field of pollution control and works as the technical wing of MoEF.

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