pg. 1
ACTION PLAN FOR
REJUVENATION OF
SUBARNAREKHA RIVER IN
JHARKHAND
JHARKHAND STATE POLLUTION CONTROL
BOARD, DHURWA, RANCHI, JHARKHAND-834004
pg. 2
CONTENT
CHAPTER I
❖ BACKGROUND
❖ INTRODUCTION
❖ PHYSIOGRAPHY
❖ WATER RESOURCES & RAINFALL
❖ ANNUAL RAINFALL
❖ DEVIATION OF RAINFALL
❖ SEASONAL RAINFALL
❖ RAINFALL TREND IN RABI SEASON
❖ AVERAGE MOTHLY RAINFALL
❖ MOVING AVERAGE OF THE RAINFALL
❖ EXTREME EVENT ANALYSIS
❖ SURFACE WATER RESOURCES
❖ GROUND WATER RESOURCES
❖ DRAINAGE SYSTEM AND MAPS
❖ RIVERS AND RIVER BASINS
CHAPTER II
❖ THE SUBARNAREKHA RIVER
❖ SUBARNAREKHA RIVER BASIN
❖ WATER QUALITY GOALS AS PER THE EXISTING PROVISIONS OR
GUIDELINES/ SPECIFICATIONS OF CENTRAL POLLUTION CONTROL
BOARD (CPCB)
❖ RIVER COURSE AND MAJOR TRIBUTARIES
❖ SOCIO-ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE
❖ WATER RESOURCES AND ITS USES
❖ MINING AND INDUSTRIAL ACTIVITIES
❖ NATURAL AND ANTHROPOGENIC HAZARDS
❖ IDENTIFIED STRETCHES FOR REDUCING POLLUTION
pg. 3
CHAPTER III- VISION MISSION AND STRATEGY FOR SUBARNAREKHA
RIVER
❖ VISION STATEMENT OF JHARKHAND STATE POLLUTION CONTROL
BOARD
❖ VISION STATEMENT FOR CLEAN RIVERS IN JHARKHAND
❖ MISSION STATEMENT FOR CLEAN RIVERS
CHAPTER IV-CURRENT STATUS AND TRENDS OF WATER QUALITY IN
JHARKHAND RIVERS
❖ IDENTIFICATION OF MONITORING LOCATIONS
❖ CENTRAL POLLUTION CONTROL BOARD'S NORMS FOR DESIGNATED
BEST USE
CHAPTER V-SOURCES OF WATER POLLUTION IN RIVERS
❖ MAJOR DRAINS
❖ SEWAGE/SULLAGE GENERATED FROM URBAN AREAS
❖ SEWAGE/SULLAGE GENERATED FROM RURAL AREAS
❖ INDUSTRIAL SOURCES IN THE CATCHMENT AREA OF RIVER
SWARNREKHA
❖ SOLID WASTE
CHAPTER VI-MEASURES FOR CONTROL OF POLLUTION AND TIMELINES
❖ SETTING UP OF NEW TREATMENT FACILITIES
❖ SETTING UP OF ONLINE EFFLUENT MONITORING SYSTEMS FOR STPS
AND ETPS
❖ TIMELINES FOR PROJECTS
❖ STEPS TO CLEAN RIVERS OF JHARKHAND:- ACHIEVABLE WATER
QUALITY GOALS WITH SPECIFIC TIMELINES
❖
CHAPTER VII- ACTION PLAN
❖ ACTION PLAN- SHORT TERM AND LONG TERM ACTION AND THE
IDENTIFIED AUTHORITIES FOR INITIATING ACTIONS AND THE TIME
LIMITS FOR ENSURING COMPLIANCE
pg. 4
❖ SHORT TERM AND LONG TERM ACTION PLANS FOR REJUVENATION
OF RIVERS AND THE IMPLEMENTING AGENCIES RESPONSIBLE FOR
EXECUTION OF THE ACTION PLANS AND THE TIME LIMITS ARE
GIVEN IN TABLE AS BELOW
❖ PROPOSED ACTION PLAN BY VARIOUS DEPARTMENT OF GOVT. OF
JHARKHAND
❖ PROPOSED ACTION PLAN FOR RESTORATION OF JHARKHAND
RIVERS
❖ ACTION PLAN AT VILLAGE LEVEL
❖ TIMELINES FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF MODEL RESTORATION PLAN
in 2019-2020 and 2020-2021
pg. 5
Chapter-1
JHARKHAND & ITS WATER RESOURCES
1.0 BACKGROUND:-Hon’ble National Green Tribunal passed the following orders in OA
No. 673/2018 & M.A. No. 1777/2018 titled News item published in “The Hindu “authored by
Shri Jacob Koshy titled “More river stretches are now critically polluted: CPCB on
20.09.2018 as per excerpts below.
“The issue taken up for consideration in this matter is abatement of pollution in 351 river
stretches in the country, identified as such by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
The said river stretches 2 are not meeting the prescribed standards of the water quality in
terms of Bio-chemical Oxygen Demand (BOD). Existence of polluted river stretches is
evidence to show that the State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs) have failed to perform
their statutory obligation to take appropriate action to achieve the objects of the Water
(Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974.
Having regard to the importance of the issue and in the light of judgments of the Hon’ble
Supreme Court in M.C. Mehta Vs. Union of India & Ors.1, M.C. Mehta Vs. Union of India
And Ors.2 (Calcutta Tanneries' Matter), Vellore Citizen’ Welfare Forum Vs. Union of India3,
S. Jagannath Vs. Union of India & Ors.4, And Quiet Flows The Maily Yamuna5, Tirupur
Dyeing Factory Owners Association Vs. Noyyal River Ayacutdars Protection Association &
Ors.6 and TechiTagi Tara Vs. Rajendra Singh Bhandari & Ors.7 and of this Tribunal in
Manoj Mishra Vs. Union of India8, M.C. Mehta Vs. Union of India9, Mahendra Pandey Vs.
Union of India &Ors.10, Sobha Singh & Ors. Vs. State of Punjab & Ors. 11, Nityanand
Mishra Vs. State of M.P. & Ors12, Stench Grips Mansa’s Sacred Ghaggar River (Suo-Moto
Case)13, Doaba Paryavaran Samiti Vs. State of U.P. & Ors.14, Arvind Pundalik Mhatre Vs.
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change & Ors.15, Meera Shukla Vs. Municipal
Corporation, Gorakhpur & Ors.16, Amresh Singh Vs. Union of India & Ors.17, Sudarsan
Das Vs. State of West Bengal & Ors.18, Satish Kumar vs. U.O.I & Ors.19, this Tribunal
noted 1 (1987) 4 SCC 463 ¶14 & (1988) 1 SCC 471 2 (1997) 2 SSC 411 3 (1996) 5 SSC 647
4 (1997) 2 SCC 87 5 (2009) 17 SSC 720 6 (2009) 9 SSC 737 7 (2018) 11 SCC 734 8 O.A. No.
6/2012, 2015 ALL(I) NGT REPORTER (1) (DELHI) 139 9 O.A No. 200 of 2014, 2017 NGTR
pg. 6
(3) PB 1 10 O.A. No. 58/2017 11 O.A.No. 101/2014 12 O.A. No. 456/2018 13 O.A. No.
138/2016 (TNHRC) 14 O.A. No. 231/2014 15 O.A. No. 125/2018 16 O.A. No. 116/2014 17
Execution Application No. 32/2016 in O.A. No. 295/2016 18 O.A.No. 173 of 2018 19 O.A No.
56 (THC) of 2013 3 the need for steps to check discharge of untreated sewage and effluents,
plastic waste, e-waste, bio-medical waste, municipal solid waste, diversion of river waters,
encroachments of catchment areas and floodplains, over drawal of groundwater, river bank
erosion on account of illegal sand mining. There is need for installation of Effluent Treatment
Plants (ETPs), Common Effluent Treatment Plants (CETPs), Sewage Treatment Plants
(STPs), Solid Waste Treatment and processing facilities etc.
It was also noted that BOD was required to be less than 3.0 mg/l, Dissolved Oxygen more
than 5.0 mg/l and Faecal Coliform bacteria less than 500 MPN/100 ml”
1.1 Introduction
The State of Jharkhand was created as the 28th
State of the Indian Union by the Bihar Re-
organization Act on 15th November 2000, the birth anniversary of the legendary Bhagwan
Birsa Munda. It comprises of the forest tracts of Chhotanagpur plateau and Santhal Paragna.
It is bounded by Bihar on the North, Orissa on the South, Chhattisgarh on the west and West
Bengal on the East. Topography of the State is mostly undulating, hilly and sloping with
mountains, forests, river basins and valleys. It has a rich endowment of forests and mineral
resources. It has some of the richest deposits of coal and iron ore in the world. It is the largest
producer of coal, copper, kyanite and mica in the country. It is blessed with rich fauna and
flora.
The State is home to nearly a tenth of the country’s Scheduled Tribes1, who constitute 28% of
Jharkhand’s population. Another 12% of the population is from Scheduled Castes. Jharkhand
is mostly rural, with 77.77% of the State’s population in villages. The State has 24 districts,
38 sub-divisions, 260 blocks, 4118 panchayats and 32620 villages. For safeguarding and
protecting the interest of the Scheduled Tribes and for ensuring equity and social justice in
1 The main tribes in Jharkhand are Asur, Birhor, Birjia, Chik Baraik, Korba, Lohara, Mahali, Mal Paharia,
Kumarbhag Paharia, Souriya Paharia, Savar, Santal, Oraon, Munda, Ho and Kharia.
pg. 7
the planned process of development, the State is following Tribal Sub-Plan (TSP) approach in
12 districts fully and 2 districts partly, covering 112 blocks.
With an area of 79714 km2 which accounts for 2.42% of the country’s area, Jharkhand
supports a population of 32.97 million (2011) which constitutes 2.72% of the country’s
population. South Bihar, as it was called in the earlier dispensation, is a hill state comprising
ethnic groups (tribals), Hos, Mundas, Santhals and others ; The state needs intensive
development initiatives.
Jharkhand, literally meaning a forested region, is landlocked and is an integral part of the
north-eastern portion of the Peninsular Plateaus of India. As part of ancient Gondwanaland,
Jharkhand has rock formations ranging from the earliest Archean Era to the latest Post-
tertiary period. It is a region of diverse physical features consisting of a succession of
plateaus, hills and valleys, drained by several large rivers such as Damodar, Barakar,
Subarnarekha, Koel, Brahmani, Baitarani and Mahanadi. The northern part of Jharkhand
adjoining Bihar broadly comes under the Gangetic river basin.
The State has a sub-humid climate with average annual rainfall of 1,350 mm. However, due
to high variability of monsoon rains, low moisture holding capacity of soils, absence of
developed aquifers due to the hard rock substrate and high run-off due to the undulating
terrain, agriculture is fraught with high risks2. Paddy, the principal crop of the State sown
over 1.3 mha in 2001-023 had an average yield of only 1.11 ton/ha
4. Maize, minor millets and
pulses are the other principal crops and together occupy about 25% of the net sown area, with
similar low yields. Oilseeds production is negligible. Horticulture and floriculture is
undeveloped in spite of a suitable climate.
Jharkhand is a mineral rich state, contributing 40% of the nation’s mineral wealth. Yet, it had
little impact on local livelihoods outside the industrial enclaves. Even in the most
industrialized districts, such as East Singhbhum, Bokaro, Ranchi and Dhanbad, the
2 As per the categorization by Indian Meteorological Department, Jharkhand figures in the "drought corridor” of the country, which also includes Rajasthan, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh (drought prone districts of Rayalaseema
and Telengana regions), West Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh (including Chhatisgarh), Bihar and parts of West
Bengal adjoining Jharkhand. 3Planning Commission, ibid. 4 The average yield for India during the year was 1.9 ton/ha, with Tamil Nadu, having the highest average yield
at 3.2 ton/ha. Yields vary a great deal within Jharkhand due to the undulating topography and varying levels of
development of agriculture. Source: Fertilizer statistics 2002-03 New Delhi (Published in Jharkhand Agriculture
data book 2006)
pg. 8
proportion of main workers engaged in mining and industry is less than 3%. Agriculture
remains the principal source of livelihoods for an overwhelming majority of the population.
About 48% of the State’s geographical area is cultivable. However, the net sown area is only
about 23% (all India 47%) of the geographical area and more than half of the cultivable land
remains fallow. Subsidiary farm-based activities like dairy, poultry, etc. generally follow
growth in agriculture. These have not developed in the State in spite of increasing demand for
the products. The State has a large population of scrub cattle, kept principally for draught
power and manure.
In the last 13 years, since the creation of the State, the Government has done effective work
in extending primary education in the rural areas. Government’s priority to spread road
network in the rural areas is very important. Similarly, the health sector also needs serious
attention in the rural areas. Health services in rural areas need improvement, the people are
traditionally dependent on traditional medicine men. In terms of potential opportunities, some
of the considerations which require action to reduce poverty and enhance food security are:
▪ An overwhelming majority of the State’s population is rural and dependent on
agriculture and other natural resource based livelihoods.
▪ Less than half the cultivable land in the State is presently utilized.
▪ 85% of the net sown area is under mono-cropping.
▪ Potential of water resources is not adequately developed.
▪ Productivity of agriculture is significantly lower than potential.
▪ There is little diversity in the farm sector.
▪ The State is a net importer of food grains, oilseeds, milk and milk products and
poultry.
▪ Intensification of agriculture would in the long run call for improved land husbandry,
including use of organic inputs given the undulating and hilly terrain and relatively
low fertility of soils.
▪ Almost a third of the State is classified as forests.
▪ Forests have been a significant source of income (produce/materials required for
domestic use in general/during scarcity) for nearly 1/3 of the population.
▪ Livelihood infrastructure of extension services and input-output markets is not
adequately developed.
pg. 9
1.2 PHYSIOGRAPHY
Physiography of the State: Physiographically Jharkhand state consists of series of four
distinct plateaus, the highest plateau is formed by western Ranchi plateau or the pat region,
which is 800 to 1100 meters above the mean sea level. It covers the north-western part of the
Ranchi district and southern edge of Palamau district. The next plateau is known as the
Ranchi, except the pat region. This plateau is about 600 meters above mean sea level. The
Ranchi plateau is separated from the other surface of the same elevation by Damodar trough.
The third plateau has an elevation of 300 meters above mean sea level and may be termed as
the lower Chotanagpur plateau. The fourth plateau is a uniform surface formed by the river
valleys, plains and lower parts of the outer plateau lying between 150-300 meters above mean
sea level. Rajmahal hills and the Kaimur plateau belong to this category.
The soil in the state of Jharkhand has been formed from disintegration of rocks and stones.
The soil thus formed can be divided into various soil types including red soil, micacious soil,
sandy soil, black soil and laterite soil. Red soil is found mostly in the Damodar valley, and
Rajmahal area. The Micacious soil (which consist particles of mica) is found in the regions of
Koderma, Jhumeritilaiya, Barkagaon and areas around the Mandar hill. Sandy soil is
generally found in Hazaribagh and Dhanbad and black soil in Rajmahal area whereas the
lateritic soil is found in western part of Ranchi, Palamu, and parts of Santhal Parganas and
Singhbhum.
1.3 Water Resources & Rainfall
The state receives rainfall in the range of 1200-1300 mm per year against the national
average of 1000mm. Precipitation is rather variable. Winter season precipitation is meagre
and highly variable. About 60 percent of the rainy days have rainfall below 2.5 mm. On about
40 percent rainy days, evaporation level is more than 2.5 mm per day.
Jharkhand receives rain mainly from South Western monsoon wind. Generally, this
monsoon wind hits Jharkhand in the mid of June and continues up to the month of
September. The total precipitation during these months amounts to 90-95% of the total
rainfall. July and August are the peak month of the monsoon and are the backbone of
the agriculture in Jharkhand. The table given below shows that the state receives good
amount of rainfall. However, the erratic distribution of rainfall across monsoon months
pg. 10
(June to September) creates drought situation in the state. Graph showing the
distribution of rainfall across months (JSAC) is given below :
The erratic rainfall of 5 years, for instance, depicts the pattern well in the graph above.
During winter months the state receives winter rain (10-5% of the total rainfall). These small
rains become the deciding factors for rabi crops for many farms. The South Chhotanagpur
and Santhal Pargana Divisions receive higher rainfall whereas Palamu Division receives
lowest rainfall in the state.
Despite the fact that the state has a good rainfall, the surface water availability is not
sufficient especially for agriculture due to inadequate storage facilities etc. As far as the
status of ground water is concerned, it is also in the poor state due to little recharging of
ground water by natural process and the absence of artificial recharging facilities, as a result
the water level in the plateau goes down.
1.3.1 Annual Rain fall:
Rainfall data for the catchment area has been collected from the India water portal for the last
100 Years. It has been grouped and made arithmetic average to get the decadal average
rainfall. The normal rainfall has been assumed at 1200 mm and deviation has been calculated
based on the assumption and arithmetic average of the decadal rain fall.
Extreme events related to rain fall has been measured with the deviation in the rain fall and
number of times that it has exceeded or fall short of the normal rainfall. These deviations
have been depicted in the graphs.
pg. 11
1.3.2 Deviation of rainfall:
The deviation has been measured with reference to the normal rain fall and all data has been
taken from the IMD data which is accepted country wise. It has been taken from the year
1900 onwards. In the data it can be seen that in the last 10 Decades there has been seven
decades with positive rainfall and three decades have shown negative deviation.
Rainfall
Max Temp
Min Temp
Rain Fall over last century
pg. 12
If we see the deviation in the last 10 years there has been absolute reversal of the pattern and
out of the ten year only three years have positive deviation otherwise seven years have
negative deviation.
1.3.3Seasonal Rainfall:
The district receives maximum rain from the advancing north east monsoon. Through the
retreading south west monsoon district also receives some rainfall. District has been mainly
mono cropped and it has only 3% area under irrigation as compared to 11% under the
catchement area. It has been not because that the district receives less rainfall but it has been
Rain fall deviation from normal
Rainfall Deviation ibetween 2000-2010
pg. 13
mainly because land is undulating and it causes fast runoff in the area. The variations as said
above has been also high and it causes greater run off. It has also been noticed in recent years
that number of rainy days has been shrinking as evident from the wet day data on the web site
of India water portal.
There has been wide variation in the rainfall during the Khariff and Rabi season. It has been
put as graph and it shows that there has been decreasing rend over the last few years which
can lead to a significant decrease in the coming years. The highest rainfall in Kahriff has been
reported in the year 1990 at 1693 mm and lowest in the year 1992 at 688 mm. Number of
rainy days has decreased from 69 days /year to 63 days/year in the last decade.
Kahriff rainfall and Moving average for same
Rainy days
pg. 14
1.3.4 Rainfall trend in Rabi season:
The state and district are by-enlarge remain mono cropped, however the red lateritic soil is
good for vegetables and hence rainfall in Rabi or irrigation facilities has a great bearing on
the cultivation in Rabi season. Over the last few years there has been significant decrease in
rainfall. Especially after 1996 the trend has been alarming.
The highest rainfall has been reported in the year 1919 at 138 mm and lowest rainfall has
been reported in the year 1999 at 37 mm. The trend has been showing that since 1992 in the
month of December there has been rarely rain while before 1992 there has been rain in the
month of December. Even in January there has been decreasing trend.
1.3.5 Average Monthly Rainfall:
The data for the last 30 years has been collected to know the trends and deviations in the each
half of fifteen years. The data has been collected for last 50 years from the web site. The
trends have shown that there has been variation in average monthly rainfall and for some
decade starting from 1990 it has shown an increasing trend and then it has started showing a
decreasing trend for the district.
pg. 15
It has implications on the agriculture production and all livelihood activities based on land
and water. Even the allied livelihood activities of fisheries and animal husbandry are bound
to be affected by the changes in the precipitation regime.
1.3.6 Moving Average of the Rainfall:
It can be clearly seen that there has been a decreasing trend of rain fall indicted by the
moving average line. Post 1992 there has been decline in the average rain fall. The heaviest
rain has been received in the year 1994 at 1416.47 mm and lowest rainfall has been received
in the year 1992 at 732.61 mm. Rest of the years have received lesser rainfall and it varies
with the last two year receiving approximately 850 mm rainfall which is less than the average
rain fall received by the state and the district.
Ra
infa
ll i
n m
m
Average rainfall 72-86 Vs 87-01
72-86
87-01
pg. 16
1.3.7 Extreme event analysis:
As mentioned above that in the last century there has been three decades with deficit average
rainfall where as in the last decade only there has been three average rainfall year. This
indicates the absolute reversal of trends in the last decade.
There have been consecutive droughts in the year 2001-02-03, 2005-06 and 2009-10. It can
be seen that on average every third year there has been drought.
Rainfall and Moving average rainfall
Rainfall
Moving average
Rainfall Deviation ibetween 2000-2010
pg. 17
1.3.8 Surface Water Resources
Considering average annual rainfall of 1200 mm, the state receives 95,652 MCM rain water annually.
However, as per the Second Bihar Irrigation Commission’s Report (1994), the total availability of
water in the state of Jharkhand is 33,489 MCM, including downstream discharge from the basins.
1.3.9 Ground Water Resources
Groundwater constitutes a major and widely used resource in Jharkhand for drinking and domestic
purposes. However, it is not uniformly distributed due to the varied hydrogeology of the state. About
20% of the available ground water is used for irrigation mainly from privately owned dug well or
shallow tube wells. District-wise ground water balance data indicate high levels of ground water
withdrawal in certain urban agglomerations where groundwater potential developed is only a tenth of
the utilizable reserves.
Presently, the availability of water resource is only 287810 lakh m3, out of which 237890 lakh m3 is
from surface water and rest 49920 lakh m3 is from ground water. The total utilization of surface and
ground water in the state for irrigation purposes so far is only 47360 lakh m3, out of which 39640 lakh
m3 is surface water and 7720 lakh m3 is ground water.
Today, nearly 90% of the water supplied to rural areas is from ground water sources whereas about
30% of the water supply in the urban areas comes from ground water sources and the rest from over
ground reservoirs and rivers. In the last 25 to 30 years the villages have shifted to the utilization of
water from surface water to ground water through wells and hand pump for their domestic purposes.
Table1 : Surface Water Snapshot of Jharkhand (Surface Water Information)
Average annual rainfall 1200 mm
Total average annual precipitation 95652 MCM
River Basin Area 79,262 sq. km
Surface water availability 27,528 MCM
Ground water availability 5,251MCM
Surface water usage 6,965 MCM
pg. 18
The annual replenishable ground water resource in the state has been established at 5.58 BCM
(Billion Cubic Meters) and net annual ground water availability is estimated to be 5.25 BCM (Central
Ground Water Board, 2006). Altogether, the state puts to use 21% of its ground water resources.
Allocation of Water- Table II
Surface Water Ground Water
Irrigation purpose 41% 89.40%
Industry & Drinking 5321 MCM 538 MCM
Municipal Use 6% 10.60%
Industrial Use 13.76% Nil
1.4 Drainage systems and Maps
Jharkhand falls under the Chotanagpur Plateau from the North Eastern position of peninsular
plateaus of India. The entire state is drained into Bay of Bengal. Major rivers such as Son,
Damodar, Barakar, Subarnarekha, Brahmi and Baitarani and their sub drainage systems form
nine major catchments in the state. These drainage systems and catchments are depicted by
following two maps:
pg. 19
Demarcation of micro-catchment areas
The state of Jharkhand has 678 sub catchment areas, which has been further divided into
1952 mini catchment areas and finally broken up into 10,439 micro catchment areas5. The
Rural Development Department has sought support from Jharkhand Space Application
Centre (JSAC) under the aegis Department of Information Technology, Government of
Jharkhand. JSAC digitized all sub- catchment area, mini-catchment areas and micro-
catchment areas. These digitized maps are available for planning, review and monitoring.
Each micro-catchment area has been given a unique code along with broad features of the
catchment area. Below is the map showing micro- catchment areas in Jharkhand:
5 The area covered under a micro -catchement area varies from 60 hectares to more than 3,000 hectares
depending on the drainage outlet of that area.
pg. 20
JSAC has developed/ compiled information related to each of the catchment area with its code, boundaries and
other features, which are available in website (http://210.212.20.94:8081/rural_GIS/Default.aspx). SLNA and
PIAs are able to access the required maps, etc. for various purposes. A sample of coding of catchment area is
shown in the following picture:
pg. 21
1.5 Rivers & River basins: The State has following main rivers and river
basins:
Rivers : Subarnarekha, Damodar, Barakar, South Koel, North Koel, Shankh, Ajay,
Mayurakshi, Gumani, Kharkai, Ganga, Sone, Batane, Auranga, More, Karo and Bansloi;
River Basins : Subarnarekha, Damodar, Barakar, South Koel, North Koel, Mayurakshi,
Gumani, Ajay, Bilasi, Chandan Chir, Sone Stem with Kanhar, Punpun-Kiul, Harohar, Koa-
Bhena, Sankh, Dwarka mor.
The following map shows the broad division of the state with one side confluence towards
river Ganges in the north and north-east and the other part draining out towards south and
south-east meeting the Bay of Bengal.
pg. 22
Drought is a situation whereby the shortfall in the precipitation from monsoon becomes more
than 15% of the normal. The state receives an average annual rainfall of 1,200 mm. Rainfall
is concentrated during the four monsoon months from June through September. Over 80% of
the rain is received in the state during this period. Further, the quantum and distribution of
rainfall have a profound impact on the overwhelmingly rain-fed farming system. High
variability of monsoon rains, low moisture holding capacity of soils, absence of developed
aquifers due to the hard rock substrate and high run-off due to the undulating terrain make
agriculture fraught with high risks6. Even in years of normal monsoons with overall rainfall
around the long-term average, farmers are often faced with the spectre of total crop failure
due to long dry spells at critical junctures (such as Hathia rain failure) in the crop cycle
during the wet season when almost 90% of the crops are cultivated. This phenomenon is
observed almost regularly once in every 3 years.
6 As per the categorization by Indian Meteorological Department, Jharkhand figures in the "drought corridor” of
the country, which also includes Rajasthan, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh (drought prone districts of Rayalaseema
and Telengana regions), West Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh (including Chhatisgarh), Bihar and parts of West
Bengal adjoining Jharkhand.
pg. 23
Chapter 2
Subarnarekha River Basin
2.0 The Subarnrekha River:
The word “Subarnarekha” literally means “streak of gold.” It is a combination of two
words; “Subarna” meaning gold and “rekha” meaning line or streak in Indian languages.
Traditionally, it is believed that gold was mined at a village named Piska near the origin of
the river. This was the reason for the river being named as Subarnarekha. It has been known
that gold particles were found in the Subarnarekha River bed sediments at ancient time. At
some places, even today people are searching for the gold particles in the sandy beds of the
river. As the tributaries of Subarnarekha flow over gold-bearing rocks of the Panch Pargana
plain, they pick up particles of gold from the auriferous rocks for deposition in the bed of
Subarnarekha. Still, it carries grains of the glittering metal which is often panned from its
sandy bed by the local residents along the middle reaches of the river.
The Subarnarekha is a rain-fed river and ranked as the smallest river basin among fourteen
major river basins of India. The Subarnarekha River originates near Nagri village (23° 18′
02″N and 85° 11′ 04″E) in the Ranchi district and runs through some major cities and towns,
i.e., Jamshedpur, Chaibasa, Ranchi, Bhadrak before joining to the Bay of Bengal near
Kirtania port (21° 33′ 18″N and 87° 23′ 31″E) in Orissa. The catchment area of the
Subarnarekha River basin extends over 19,296 km2 and accounts for 0.6% of the
geographical area of India (Roy et al. 2013). The total annual yield of water flowing within
the basins is in the order of 7940 million m3. The Subarnarekha River basin is bounded by
north latitudes of 21° 33′ to 23°32′ and east longitudes of 85° 09′ to 87° 27′ and flows in the
north-east corner of the Peninsular India (Fig. 1). Chota Nagpur plateau bounded the
Subarnarekha River basin from the north-west side, while it is restricted by the Brahmani
River basin in the south-west, Burhabalang River basin in the south, and by the Bay of
Bengal in the south-east side. The Subarnarekha flows through Ranchi, Saraikela, and east
Singhbhum districts of Jharkhand, west Midnapore district of West Bengal, and Balasore
district of Orissa. It flows a distance of about 395 km from its origin before falling into the
Bay of Bengal. Out of the total travel distance of 395 km, river flows 269 km in Jharkhand,
64 km in West Bengal, and 62 km in Orissa (CBPCWP 1986; Giri and Singh 2014a).
Subarnarekha is a very important river to satisfy the irrigation, industrial and municipal water
pg. 24
demands of these three states. The state-wise distribution of the catchment area and its
percentage in respect to the total river basin drainage area are given in Table 1.
State Wise Distribution of Catchment Area
Table III
Sl. No. Name of the State Catchment Area
(Km2)
Percentage
1 Jharkhand 13,193 68.4
2 Orrisa 3,114 16.1
3 West Bengal 2,989 15.5
Total 19,296 100
pg. 25
2.1 Water Quality Goals as per the existing provisions or guidelines/
specifications of Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)
It is an important aspect for revival of River Subrnarekha, Nalkari, Garga, Shank, Damodar,
Jumar & Konar in context of their utility as streams are perennial rivers. The ultimate goal for
beneficial use of river will determine the level of actions to be taken for maintaining the
water quality. Under the present circumstances, it appears that River Subrnarekha, Nalkari,
Garga, Shank, Damodar, Jumar & Konar may serve the purpose of outdoor bathing
(organized) and for meet the outdoor bathing standards. The industrial effluents generated
from various industries in the catchment of River Subrnarekha, Nalkari, Garga, Shank,
Damodar, Jumar & Konar, which are ultimately falling and contributing to the pollution load
of the rivers shall be treated to meet the effluent discharge standards stipulated under
Schedule-VI of the Environment (Protection) Rules, 1986 which is given as Annexure-I. The
river water quality for outdoor bathing (organized) requires more stringent conditions and
river water quality has to maintain adequate Dissolved Oxygen (DO) content. Suggested
criteria for outdoor bathing (organized) for River River Subrnarekha, Nalkari, Garga, Shank,
Damodar, Jumar & Konar are given in the following Table - IV.
Table IV:-
Sl. No. Parameters Class ‘B’ Water Quality Criteria for
Outdoor Bathing (Organized)
1. Ph 6.5 to 8.5
2. Dissolved Oxygen (DO) 5 mg/l or less
3. Biochemical Oxygen Demand (5
days, 200
C)
3 mg/l or less
4. Faecal Coliforms Organism 500 or less (MPN/100 ml)
2.2 River Course and Major Tributaries
The River Subarnarekha is originated near the Nagri village, at a distance of about 15 km
south-west of Ranchi, the capital of Jharkhand (Fig. 2a). On the Ranchi plateau, the river
lazily winds its way for 60 km till its water plunge down a 74-m-high cliff, creating a scenic
waterfall known as Hundru Fall (Fig. 2b). The river thereafter flows through a 25-km-long-
deep gorge till it emerges out of the Ranchi plateau and debouches on the flatter piedmont
pg. 26
plain of Panch Pargana. By now, the river swells fairly big, some 500 m wide. After having
travelled through a course of 145 km over the Panch Pargana plain, the river cuts through a
narrow defile across the volcanic lavas of Dalma range. After emerging from the range, the
river sweeps through a fairly wide floor of the Dhalbhum valley for another 150 km till it
finally leaves the rocky granitic terrain of Jharkhand and takes to a more meandering course
on the unconsolidated alluvial material in the Medinipur district of West Bengal and Balasore
district of Orissa (CBPCWP 1986; Jain et al. 2007). After several turns, the river eventually
empties its enormous volume of water along with its rather heavy silt load into the shallow
shelf of the Bay of Bengal at Kirtania near Talsari (Fig. 2).
Fig. (2) a- The origin place of the Subarnarekha River at Nagri village, b- Subarnarekha
plunge down a 74 m high cliff at Hundru (Hundru Fall), c- the river near mouth at Kirtania,
d- confluence of Subarnarekha and Kharkai rivers at Sonari near Jamshedpur
pg. 27
Table V: - Major Tributaries of Subarnrekha River
The Subarnarekha has an asymmetrical catchment basin; the right-bank tributaries draining
more than three-fourths of the total basin area, whereas the left-bank tributaries drain hardly
one-fourth of the basin. On the right bank, there are four major tributaries, the Raru, the
Kanchi, the Karkari, and the Kharkai, draining between them nearly half of the Subarnarekha
basin, covering around 9050 km2 area, while on the left side there is only one sizable stream,
namely the Dulung, which drains an area of some 1173 km2 (Table 2). The Kharkai is the
largest tributary of the Subarnarekha originated on the slopes of the Simlipal massif in
Mayurbhanj district and contributing nearly 45% of the total annual flow of the Subarnarekha
River. It drains a catchment area of 5825 km2 and flows through a course of 145 km before
joining Subarnarekha at Sonari near Jamshedpur town (Fig. 2d). The Kharkai is also a gold-
bearing river, some of its tributaries like the Sanjai, Sona Sanhua, and the Bonai are known to
have placer gold in their beds.
pg. 28
2.3 Socio-Economic Importance
2.3.1 Water Resource and Its Uses
Since the basin is located in the moderately heavy rainfall area of Peninsular India,
especially along the belt of storm tracks originating in the Bay of Bengal, it receives a
substantial quantity of rainwater (about 28,609 million cubic meters) every year (CBPCWP
1986). About 82% of the total annual flow actually occurs over only four wet months (June–
September), while in the remaining part of the year, the Subarnarekha River and its tributaries
run almost dry. If the total annual flow is taken into consideration, the mean discharge of the
river would come around 250 m3/s. At places, especially in the upper and the middle reaches,
the river flow during the dry period becomes sluggish, and it behaves like a stagnant pool of
water, often highly charged with pollutants. The Subarnarekha and its tributaries are
sustaining a large population of Jharkhand, West Bengal, and Orissa and form the main
sources of urban water supply. The water resources of the Subarnarekha River basin are
summarized in Table VI.
Table VI: - Water Resource Potential of Subarnarekha River Basin
Table VII:- Land use Pattern of Subarnarekha River Basin
Though Subarnarekha basin is rich in mineral and mineral-based industries, it is still
dominated by its agrarian economy. Agriculture, as an economic activity, has not yet been
pg. 29
properly developed within the Subarnarekha basin, and necessary inputs including irrigation
facilities are still rather inadequate. About 62% of the basin area is classified as cultivable,
and nearly 31% is devoted to forests. The forests within the basin are in poor state of
maintenance and required rigorous protective measures. The net sown area occupies 40% of
the basin, while 22% is left unused as fallow land or as cultivable waste (Table 4).
The Subarnarekha River basin presents a classic example of conflict among competing uses
of water both sectorally and across regions. The river water has been used by different
agencies for different purposes. It is used by industry as a direct process input and as a
disposal agent for the dilution of effluents; by agriculturists for irrigation; and by household
sector for drinking and other domestic uses (Jain et al. 2007). A number of irrigation and
multipurpose projects were initiated to fulfill the water and energy demand of the eastern
region. This includes Subarnarekha Multipurpose Project, an inter-state project in Jharkhand,
West Bengal, and Orissa; Kanchi Irrigation Schemes, and ten Medium Irrigation Projects of
Jharkhand. The main objectives of the Subarnarekha Multipurpose Project (SMP) are (i) to
provide reliable water supply to agricultural lands in Jharkhand, Orissa, and West Bengal, (ii)
to supply 740 million m3 water per year for municipal and industrial uses in Jharkhand, (iii)
to reduce flood damage in Orissa and West Bengal by constructing 463 million m3 flood-
storage capacity dam at Chandil, (iv) to construct embankments by Orissa and West Bengal
governments in their respective territories along the flooding reaches of the river, and (v) to
generate 30 MW of hydroelectric power through medium, mini-, and micro-hydroelectric
projects located at various points of the canal system.
The Subarnarekha Multipurpose Project was initiated in 1982–83 with the objective of
irrigation, hydropower generation, and water supply. However, the feasibility and economic
viability of the project have decreased due to the attempts to implement all project
components simultaneously and the consequent delays. This Multipurpose Project envisaged
the construction of two dams, one at Chandil across the Subarnarekha and the other across the
Kharkai at Icha near Chaibasa, two barrages at Galudih across the Subarnarekha and the other
across the Kharkai at Ganjia near Adityapur and a network of canals from these. Three small
storage reservoirs at Haldia, Jambhira, and Baura and a network of canals from these
reservoirs are also proposed in Orissa. However, the construction work of Chandil dam and
Galudih barrage is only completed, while all other components are either delayed or still
incomplete.
pg. 30
A multipurpose reservoir is constructed across the Subarnarekha River at Getalsud (23° 27′N
and 85° 33′E), about 40 km east of Ranchi city in 1971 to meet municipal water demands of
Ranchi town, industrial needs of the Heavy Engineering Corporation (HEC), and other
industrial units of the adjoining areas. Getalsud dam has a catchment area of 717 km2, dam
height of 35.5 m, and water storage capacity of 288.5 Mm3. Two powerhouses of 65 MW
capacities each have been also commissioned near to dam site. Both the powerhouses have
one unit of 65 MW each (Jain et al. 2007). Some of the major water storage/diversion
structures of river basin are summarized in Table VIII.
Table VIII: - Water Storage/Diversion Structure of Subarnarekha River Basin
2.3.2 Mining and Industrial Activities
The upper part of Subarnarekha basin harbors some extensive mineral deposits, and thus, a
number of industries have been established along the banks of the river. The mineral
resources of Subarnarekha basin are mainly comprises of ores of Cu, Fe, U, Cr, Au, V,
industrial minerals including kyanite, asbestos, barytes, apatite, china clay, talc, limestone,
dolomite, and building stones (Giri et al. 2013). All these have been exploited for various
purposes, some on large scale and some on small scale. The arc-shaped Singhbhum copper
belt between Mayurbhanj and Singhbhum districts at the right bank of the Subarnarekha
ranked as the one of the richest copper-bearing horizons of India. Rakha, Mushabani, and
Surda were historically important centers for the copper mining in this region. Subarnarekha
also has to bear country’s richest uranium deposits, and mining activities are taking place
pg. 31
near Jaduguda areas of Singhbhum district by the Uranium Corporation of India (UCIL).
Jaduguda, Turamdih, Batin, and Narwapahar are the major centers of productive uranium
mines.
Deposits of chromite associated with ultramafic intrusive rocks were reported in the Chaibasa
region of Jharkhand. Iron ore deposits occur at Gorumahisani, Badampahar, and Sulaipat
areas. There are several deposits of kyanite occur in the Subarnarekha River basin including
India’s richest deposits at Lapsa Buru. The basin studded with numerous small quarries for
building stones and road metals. Slabs of dolerite, Singhbhum granites, Kolhan limestone and
sandstone, and Chota Nagpur granite–gneiss are extensively used in building and road
constructions.
The Subarnarekha River passes through an industrial rich belt of Jharkhand and Orissa. There
are four major industrial areas occur along the bank of the Subarnarekha: (i) Ranchi–Hatia
industrial area, (ii) alumina processing plant at Muri, (iii) the iron and steel plant and
industrial complex at Jamshedpur, and (iv) Jaduguda–Ghatsila mining and industrial
complex. Heavy Engineering Corporation (HEC), Usha Martin Industries, MECON, Steel
Authority of India (SAIL), Indian Aluminum Industries, Tata Steel, TELCO, Indian Tube
Company, Tin Plate (of India), Tata Pigments, Hindustan Copper Ltd., and Uranium
Corporation of India are the major existing industrial units in the basin. Other important
small- and medium-sized industries in the basin are tobacco products in Chakradharpur;
cement, asbestos sheets, glass, and ceramics at Chaibasa; locomotives and coaches,
automobiles, agricultural equipments, wires and cables, iron and steel machinery, metal tubes
and conduits, copper and brass, chemicals and caustics, fertilizers, and soaps are the other
industries exist at Jamshedpur. Studies have indicated that the water quality of Subarnarekha
River has deteriorated mainly due to discharge of untreated, domestic and industrial, and
mining effluents at various river stretches (CBPCWP 1986).
2.3.3 Natural and Anthropogenic Hazards
The river “Subarnarekha” is the lifeline for tribal communities inhabiting the Chota Nagpur
region and the people of the north Orissa. It does not merely represent a river but means a lot
more than that for this region. However, it has also become the death line when it submerges
major areas of Balasore such as Bhogarai, Baliapal, Basta, Jaleswar blocks, and some parts of
Rasgovindpur block of Mayurbhanj every year during rainy season, causing large-scale
pg. 32
devastation in the villages situated on both sides of the river. Every year, people suffer from
the same problem; the only change is in the intensity of the flood. Annual average rainfall in
the basin is in the order of 1250 mm with the maximum and minimum rainfall recorded as
1420 and 1150 mm, respectively. Out of this, about 90% of this rainfall is recorded during the
south-west monsoon season, i.e., June–October (Jain et al. 2007). The water level of the
Subarnarekha rose beyond its danger line due to heavy rain in July 2007, and it crossed the
previous highest flood level (HFL) of 12.2 m recorded in 1997. Flash floods due to heavy
rainfall in the upper catchment areas were also recorded in the Subarnarekha River in year
1973, 1974, 1977, 1978, and 2009 (Maiti et al. 2009). The floods were devastating in nature;
it took many lives and submerging thousands of houses and destroyed thousands of hectare
kharif crops. Severe deforestation, rapid urbanization, industrialization, and severe soil
degradation in the upper catchment of the Subarnarekha basin were the main causes for such
ecological disaster.
Throughout the Subarnarekha basin, the soil mantle has been subjected to heavy erosion, and
the topsoil is liable to be washed down the river if adequate protection is not provided
immediately. Erosion control and soil conservation in the upper catchment are therefore
essential for sustainable agricultural development and conservation of the water resources of
the Subarnarekha basin. Certain parts of Jumar sub-basin have also been severely affected by
gully erosion. There is great fluctuation between the wet season and dry season flows if the
total annual flow is taken into account. The fact is that the entire amount of annual flow is
actually spread over the four wet months (June–September). During the flood stage, the
Subarnarekha turns into a large, turbulent stream of highly turbid water and is charged with
sediments of yellow ochre color. The silt load during the rainy season is very high, indicative
of heavy soil erosion, especially in the upper catchment zone. While floods occur frequently
in the wet season, during the rest eight months, the flow in the Subarnarekha drops down to a
mere trickle, leaving the river as a series of fordable pools of water almost throughout its
length, barring the tidal and lower estuarine stretch of the course.
Subarnarekha’s rich natural resource base has proved to be disastrous for the basin. Large-
scale environmental degradation of the basin owes to the unplanned and unregulated mining
and mineral processing industries. Unscientific mining practices and unplanned dumping of
wastes and mining tailing create many environmental problems in the region. The erosion and
transportation of wastes from exposed dumps and mining tailing during the monsoon seasons
increase suspended solids and heavy metal loads in the river water and caused siltation in the
pg. 33
dams and reservoirs. Mining of construction and building materials, such as granite, basalt,
quartzite, dolerite, sandstone, limestone, dolomite, gravels, and river sands, has created many
environmental problems and created vast stretches of wasteland in the river basin. The copper
mining around Ghatsila and Mosabani has degraded the water quality to a large extent, and in
many places, concentration of toxic metals was observed above the prescribed limits. There is
also apprehension about water contamination due to seepage of radioactive waste from tailing
ponds of the Uranium Corporation of India near Jaduguda areas. Radioactive pollution is a
serious health hazard in the water bodies of the region which necessities precautions to be
taken.
The mine tailing and dumps of injurious minerals must be carefully monitored for assessing
their possible impact on the environment in the Subarnarekha basin. Besides mining, the
other factors responsible for pollution in the river are considerable amount of domestic and
industrial wastewater generated from the towns which is discharged into the river. For
mitigating pollution, proper remedial measures should be adapted in the towns and the
industrial units responsible for polluting the surface water and groundwater systems. The
locations around Tatisilwai, Muri, Ghatsila, Mosabani, and Jamshedpur indicate severe
pollution in the Subarnarekha River (Giri and Singh 2014b). The need of stringent control of
the quality of the industrial, mining, and domestic wastewater effluents discharged into the
river is utmost important because the total volume of water flows in the river on the whole is
on the lower side, especially during the dry season. During the long dry period, the
Subarnarekha turns into stagnant brook, and at many places, it losses pollutants diluting
capability and totally incapable of washing down the pollutants discharged into it from the
urban and industrial centers such as Hatia, Ranchi, Muri, Jamshedpur, Jaduguda, and
Ghatsila. The surface water quality in the greater part of the Subarnarekha River is graded as
classes D and E on the basis of laboratory measurements of the constituents (CBPCWP
1986). Up gradation of the existing river water quality requires an appropriate treatment. It
would be necessary to take up a well-planned pollution control action program not only at
different towns and industries, but throughout the basin.
pg. 34
2.3.4 Identified stretches for reducing pollution- Table IX
The different identified stretches across Subarnarekha for reducing pollution are
RIVER STRETCH SAMPLING POINT PROBABLE SOURCE
OF POLLUTION
Subarnarekha Hatia Dam To
Jamshedpur
1) Hatia Dam,
2) Namkum Bridge,
3) Tatisilway,
4) Getalsudh Dam,
5) Muri Road Bridge,
6) Chandil dam,
7) Chandail Road Bridge,
8) JSR(Upstream),
9) JSR(Downstream)
1) Effluent Discharge from
Rice Mills, HEC,
2) Effluent Discharge from
Tipudana Industrial area and
Sewage Discharge from Hatia
Urban area and RMC.
3)Tatisilway Industrial area
and Agricultural Run off
4)Agricultural Run off
5) Sewage Discharge from
Railway colony
6) Agricultural Run off
7)Domestic Sewage and
Agricultural run off
8) JSR Industrial effluent
discharge and Jamshedpur
notified area committee
9)Industrial area effluent
discharge and Domestic
Sewage
pg. 35
Chapter-3
Vision Mission and Strategy for Subarnarekha River
3.0 Vision statement of Jharkhand State Pollution Control Board: Jharkhand State
Pollution Control Board aims at taking Jharkhand through the path of sustainable
development, equitable opportunities and appropriate governance by rigorous implementation
of environmental laws; by being pro-active in preventing and mitigating pollution; by
committing to the tenants of good governance; by enhancing involvement of all; and by
promoting self regulation and self certification among stake holders.
3.1 Vision statement for clean rivers in Jharkhand: Vision statement for Clean Rivers in
Jharkhand can be stated as – To achieve clean rivers, with safe drinking water to all its
inhabitants for sustaining and nourishing life and efficient use of water in irrigation using
micro-irrigation techniques and in industry by using water efficient technologies with
mandatory provision for treatment of waste water and reuse it for other purposes except for
drinking.
3.2 Mission statement for clean rivers:
3.2.1 To prepare and implement a comprehensive action plan for clean Rivers-:
Build holistic awareness among people, companies, farmers and other water users for
importance of rivers in identified patches with people centered monitoring mechanisms and
mitigating adverse impact of water pollution on health of people living in the different river
basin.
3.2.2 Strategy for clean rivers:
To achieve mission for clean rivers steps that will be necessary have been identified by the
JSPCB and has been communicated with the concerns for actions. This has been jointly
developed by the JSPCB and the different stakeholders in the chain. It has been done by
convening meetings and workshops for sharing the idea and then collating it for joint action
with defined timelines and expected results. The strategic steps are followings-
pg. 36
Identification of stake holders
Community in the river basin and especially in the polluted stretches:
Communities in the river stretches are mostly rural communities mixed with a
cosmopolitan community in the industrialized belts. Approximately 79 villages along
with suburban areas falls in the catchment of the proposed river stretch. The villages'
houses close to 7663 families with a population size of 40071.
Companies in the identified locations: Companies in the catchment area includes
USHA Martin limited, Waxpol, HEC, Tipudana industrial area, Tata steel, Adhunik
group of companies, Tayo, Tata Maintenance and others.
Municipal corporations in the identified stretches: There are two municipal
corporations in the catchment area of the river – Ranchi Municipal Corporation and
Jamshedpur Municipal Corporation.
Community and private health care centers: As such there are no health care facilities
on the banks of the river which disposes medical waste in the river.
Main line departments like water resources, Agriculture, industries, Panchayati raj,
Rural development and others.
Nodal department
Convergence and Integration of departmental plans: The district level monitoring
committee will be responsible for convergence and dove tailing of the programmes
from different departments.
Monitoring of the action plans executed on regular intervals> it will be done by the
district level monitoring committee headed by District Collector.
pg. 37
Chapter-4
Current Status and Trends of Water Quality in Jharkhand Rivers
4.0 Identification of monitoring locations
4.0.1 River Subarnarekha:-
The water quality of river Swarnrekha is being monitored at 5 locations, starting from Hatia
up to Jamshedpur on monthly basis under National Water Quality monitoring Programme
(NWMP) and it will be monitored across all types of polluting sources like Industrial,
domestic and agriculture pollution.
Effluent Discharge from Rice Mills, HEC,
Effluent Discharge from Tipudana Industrial area and Sewage Discharge from Hatia Urban
area and RMC
Tati silway Industrial area and Agricultural Run off
Agricultural Run off
Sewage Discharge from Railway colony
Agricultural Run off
Domestic Sewage and Agricultural run off
JSR Industrial effluent discharge and Jamshedpur notified area committee
Industrial area effluent discharge and Domestic Sewage
4.1 Central pollution control board's norms for designated best use :-
Central pollution control board has set certain norms for classifying water quality based on
the 8 defined para meters and these has been the guiding lines for setting up standards for
cleaning river water qualities.
Table: - X
Sl. No. Constituent
Parameters
Designated best uses classes
A B C D E BELOW
E
1 Total Coliforms
Organism,
MPN/100ml, Max
50 500 5000 - - Not
meeting
A, B, C,
D
& E
2 pH value 6.5 to
8.5
6.5 to
8.5
6 to 9 6.5 to
8.5
6.5 to
8.5
pg. 38
3 Dissolved Oxygen,
mg/l,
Min
6 5 4 4 criteria
4 Biochemical Oxygen
Demand, mg/l, 5 days
20C,
Max
2 3 3
5 Free Ammonia (as N)
mg/l, Max
1.2
6 Sodium absorption
Ratio,
Max
26
7 Electrical
Conductivity at
25C micro mhos/cm,
Max
2250
8 Boron, mg/l, Max 2
Note:
Class A: Drinking Water Source without conventional treatment but after disinfection
Class B: Outdoor bathing (Organised)
Class C: Drinking water source after conventional treatment and disinfection
Class D: Propagation of Wild life and Fisheries
Class E: Irrigation, Industrial Cooling, Controlled Waste disposal.
pg. 39
4.1.1Analysis report of Swarnrekha river basin under NWMP of Nov., 2018:-
Table: - XI
Lab
Ref. No.
Station
Code
No.
Name of the
sampling
point.
Date/time
of sample
collected
Temp
A/W in
oC
PH
Value
D.O.
mg/lt
BOD
mg/lt
COD
mg/lt
T.H
mg/
lt
Ca++
mg/lt
Mg++
mg/lt
Cl-
mg/lt
Alk
mg/lt
Acidity
mg/lt
T.S.
mg/lt
TSS
mg/lt
TDS
mg/lt
T.C
MPN
100
F.C.
MPN
100
503/18
23
Swarnrekha
river,
At.- Tatisilwai
28.12.2018
3.20 PM 18/15 7.4 7.2 3.3 60 110 28.8 9.272 14 70 6 440 40 400 750 140
500/18
2385
Swarnrekha
river,
Namkum Road
Bridge
28.12.2018
1.05 PM 20/15 6.5 5.6 3.2 64 110 28.8 9.272 14 70 6 370 40 330 930 150
474/18
2386
Swarnrekha
river,
At.- Mardu
Village
12.12.2018
11.35 AM 24/18 6.8 8 2.6 52 108 19.2 16.64 16 72 6 430 44 386 750 140
496/18
2395 Hatia Dam
28.12.2018
8.40 AM 20/13 7.3 8.3 1.9 40 112 30.4 8.784 14 68 6 332 32 300 930 150
505/18
2397
Swarnrekha
river,
At. - Getalsud
Dam
28.12.2018
4.30 PM 18/16 7.5 8.2 2.7 52 110 28.8 9.272 14 76 6 358 50 308 930 150
pg. 40
449/18
23
Swarnrekha
river,
At.- Tatisilwai
22.11.2018
2.38 PM 26/22 7.6 5.5 3.1 60 108 19.2 16.64 16 72 6 438 40 398 930 150
446/18
2385
Swarnrekha
river,
Namkum Road
Bridge
22.11.2018
10.35 AM 26/22 6.5 5.3 3.4 64 112 30.4 8.784 16 72 6 368 38 330 750 140
466/18
2386
Swarnrekha
river,
At.- Mardu
Village
28.11.2018
11.20 AM 23/18 7.5 7.9 2.6 48 110 28.8 9.272 14 74 6 432 46 386 930 150
444/18
2395 Hatia Dam
22.11.2018
8.35 AM 25/21 7.4 8.5 2.5 44 114 36 5.856 16 70 6 330 32 298 750 140
453/18
2397
Swarnrekha
river,
At. - Getalsund
Dam
22.11.2018
4.50 PM 24/20 7.5 8 2.7 48 114 36 5.856 16 78 6 360 52 308 750 140
Current status of quality of water in River Swarnrekha:- From the above table which shows results along different indicators shows that
water quality is improving on all parameters and hence it can besaid that in the coming times it will further improve.
pg. 41
Water quality data as per designated best use excluding rainy season for Subarnarekha River at few sampling stations
(August To October)
Parameters Designated best
use
2017-
18
2018
-19
2017
-18
2018-
19
2017-
18
2018-
19
2017-
18
2018-
19
2017-
18
2018-
19
2017
-18 2018-19
Sl.
No
sampling
station pH
D.O
(mg/l)
B.O.D
(mg/l)
T.C
(MPN/100ml
F.C
(MPN/100ml) class
1
Swarnrekha
river,
At.- Tatisilwai
Maximum 7.5 6.8 7.0 7.0 3.1 3.1 930 930 210 150 D D
Minimum 6.8 6.5 5.6 6.8 3.0 3.0 750 750 140 140 C C
Average 7.15 6.65 6.3 6.9 3.05 3.05 840 840 175 145 D D
2
Chandil Road
Bridge
Maximum 7.7 7.6 7.9 8.0 0.4 0.8 - - - - - -
Minimum 7.4 7.4 7.6 7.4 0.2 0.3 - - - - - -
Average 7.49 7.49 7.7 7.69 0.3 0.4 - - - - - -
3
On
Swarnrekha
river before
meeting to
kharkai
Maximum 7.8 7.5 7.8 7.8 0.6 0.7 - - - - - -
Minimum 7.2 7.2 7.0 7.4 0.3 0.4 - - - - - -
Average 7.54 7.36 7.43 7.6 0.44 0.44 - - - - - -
4
On Kharkai
river before
meeting
Swarnrekha
river
Maximum. 7.6 7.83 7.2 6.4 9.0 7.0 - - - - - -
Minimum 7.0 6.2 3.0 3.4 1.8 2.3 - - - - - -
Average 7.3 7.21 4.47 4.5 5.93 5.4 - - - - - -
pg. 42
Chapter- 5
Sources of Water Pollution in Subarnarekha River
5.0 Major Drains
The major daring pouring in to the river at various stretches contains drains from
suburban areas and from municipal corporations. These carry domestic waste and also waste
from agricultural fields. There are treatment facilities for sewage from municipal corporations
but sewage from sub urban areas located on the banks of the river drains untreated and causes
pollution. There are approximately 7 drains of 5 Mtr widths that pour in to the river.
Municipal Corporation has been advised for treatment of these drains.
These drains carry at some places untreated waste and it has been identified and plan has
been prepared for establishing treatment plants at suitable location before these drains drain
in to river Swarnrekha.
5.1 Sewage/sullage generated from Urban Areas
There are 2 local bodies which are discharging their wastewater either directly or
indirectly into River Swarnrekha. In addition, 4 Industrial Focal Points, 02 Area
Development Authority are also discharging directly or indirectly into River Swarnrekha. 37
STPs have been installed at Ranchi and Jamshedpur by the different industries and
government. Apart from this there are 36 ETPs in Ranchi and 67 ETPs in Jamshedpur for
reducing pollution of the river. The details of STPs installed and ETPs installed are given in
Annexure attached below.
5.2 Sewage/sullage generated from Rural Areas
There are approximately 79 villages falling under the catchment of the river. Some of
these villages are in the sub urban areas and generate more waste than rural villages. There
are some 19 villages which are sub urban and generate 300 KLD where as average generation
by the rest of the villages are between 125 KLD to 175 KLD.
5.3 Industrial Sources in the Catchment Area of River Swarnrekha
5.3.1Industrial units located at Ranchi, Tupudana, Hatia and Jamshedpur
The main industrial units in Ranchi are USHA martin, HEC, WAXPOL, Sehra
industries and many small industries running at Tupudana industrial area. At Jamshedpur
pg. 43
there are many industries which involve big industries like Tata Steel to small industries in
Adityapur industrial area.
Most of the industries have established there ETPs and STPs and this are evident from the
data mentioned above.
5.4 Solid Waste
Solid waste management is being done in line with the Government's order and has both
centralized and decentralized systems. For Ranchi city Ranchi Municipal Corporation is
responsible for waste management in both capacities centralized and decentralize. Solid
waste management scenario in the region of Ranchi, Ramgarh, Hazaribagh, Bokaro, Dhanbad
& Jamshedpur: -
pg. 44
Solid Waste Management Factsheet:-
Sl.
No
ULB
Collection Wet Waste Dry Waste
No of
Wards
(No.)
No of
Wards
with
D2D
(No.)
Total
Waste
generation
(TPD)
Total
Waste
collection
(TPD)
Total
Wet
Waste
generati
on
(TPD)
Total
Wet
Waste
Collecti
on
(TPD)
Total Wet
Waste
Processin
g (TPD)
%
Processing
No. of
Recycler
Tagged
No.)
Total
Dry
Waste
Generat
ion
(TPD)
Total
Dry
Waste
Collectio
n (TPD)
Total Dry
Waste
Processing
through
Recycler
(TPD)
1 Adityapur 35 35 45.3 36.24 26.3 26.3 19.72 74.98 2 10 10 10
2 Saraikela 11 11 6.1 6.1 3.4 3.4 1.7 50.00 3 2 2 1.5
3 Ranchi 53 53 526 430 315 258 50 15.87 8 158 129 65
4 Jamshedpur 12 12 190 190 110 105 105 95.45 80 55 54.8 54.8
5 Mango 36 36 73.3 66.5 40 33.2 33.2 83.00 6 12.6 12.6 9.5
pg. 45
Chapter 6
Measures for Control of Pollution
6.0 Setting up of new Treatment Facilities
The existing treatment facilities are not adequate. In order to completely stop the untreated
waste being discharged directly or indirectly into river Swarnrekha, additional new facilities
and up gradation of existing facilities is required. The action plan envisages the following
facilities to be set up/ upgraded to meet the challenges of pollution in River Swarnrekha:
(i) Setting up of Sewage Treatment Plants in Urban areas
(ii) Setting up of treatment facilities for sewage/sludge in Rural areas
(iii) Setting up of facilities for reuse of treated wastewater
(iv) Setting up treatment facilities in Industrial Areas
6.1 Setting up of Online Effluent Monitoring Systems for STPs and ETPs
It has also been observed that the treatment facilities are operating as per norms but there is
strong need to effectively monitor the treatment facilities. In order to ensure effective
monitoring, it is envisaged to install online systems for monitoring:
(i) Setting up of online system for monitoring STPs
(ii) Setting up online system for monitoring of industrial effluents
Table:-XVIII- Details of Under Construction/ Proposed Sewerage Treatment Plants(STPs)
Sr.
No
.
Construction/Propose
d STPs under
Municipal Unit
Total
Designed
Capacity
(MLD)
Stage (Under
Construction/
Proposed) Scheme
Target Date
of
Completion
1 Ranchi Municipal
Corporation (Zone-1) 1 37
UNDER
CONSTRUCTI
ON
Sate/JNNU
RM Dec-2019
2 Adityapur Municipal
Corporation 4 36
UNDER
CONSTRUCTI
ON
AMRUT May-20
3 Sahibganj Nagar
Parishad 2 12
UNDER
CONSTRUCTI
ON
Namami
Gange Aug-19
4 Rajmahal Nagar
Panchayat 1 3.5
UNDER
CONSTRUCTI
ON
Namami
Gange June-20
pg. 46
5 Mango municipal
Corporation - 43 PROPOSED
Asian
Developme
nt Bank
(ADB)
-
6 Jugsalai Nagar Parishad - 8.5 PROPOSED
Asian
Developme
nt Bank
(ADB)
-
7 Ranchi Municipal
Corporation(Zone-234) - 380 PROPOSED
World
Bank/Asian
Developme
nt
Bank(ADB
)
-
8 Dhanbad Municipal
Corporation - 84 PROPOSED
Namami
Ganga
Phase-III/
Asian
Developme
nt
Bank(ADB
)
-
9 Phusro Nagar Parishad - 14 PROPOSED
Namami
Ganga
Phase-III
-
pg. 47
Chapter 7
ACTION PLAN WITH TIMELINE
A. Action Plan- Short Term and Long Term Action and the Identified
Authorities for initiating actions and the time limits for ensuring compliance
Sl.No. Action plan for rejuvenation of river Concerned
Dept.
Time Target
A Industrial Pollution Control
1 Compliance of industries located in catchment area with
respect to effluent discharge standards and its disposal as
per consent conditions
JSPCB Continuous
2 Inventorization of the industries in the catchment area of
Rivers covering assessment on aspects relating to Status
of Consents under Water & Air Acts and Authorization,
Effluent Generation, ETP capacities and final mode of
effluent discharges
JSPCB Continuous
3 Actions against the Identified industries in operation
without Consents under Water & Air Acts/Authorization
under the H& OW ( M & TM) Rules, 2016 as amended
JSPCB Continuous
4 Action against the industries not installed ETPs or ETPs
exist but not operating or ETP outlet or treated effluent is
not complying to the effluent discharge standards or
norms
JSPCB Continuous
5 Action against the red category industries for installation
of OCEMS and not transferring data to CPCB and
JSPCB
JSPCB Continuous
6 Small scale/tiny and service providing units located in
urban or semi-urban limits like Dairies, Auto Service
Stations to have minimum provision of O & G traps
Local
Authorities/
Municipal
Corporation
December
2019
pg. 48
7 Prohibition of burning of any kind of waste including
agro residues
State Govt. /
District
Administration
and Local
Authorities
& Agriculture
Department
Continuous
8 Directions to all the Industries which are observed to be
not in operation or closed or temporarily closed to
remain close till further orders from JSPCB.
JSPCB/
District
Administration
Continuous
9 Estimation of industrial effluent generation and the
existing CETP capacity and to arrive gap between the
industrial effluent generation and the existing treatment
capacity
State
Government ,
District/Local
Administration
September
2020
10 Channelization of industrial effluents to CETPs for
ensuring treatment to comply with the discharge
standards.
Identification of suitable site within industrial areas,
Execution and Commissioning of Adequate Capacity
CETPs.
State
Government ,
District/Local
Administration
December
2020
pg. 49
B. Short term and long term action plans for rejuvenation of rivers and the
implementing agencies responsible for execution of the action plans and the
time limits are given in table as below :-
Sl.No. Action Plan For Rejuvenation Of River Concerned
Dept.
Time
Target
A Sewage Treatment and Disposal Plan
1
District-wise estimation of total sewage generation,
existing treatment capacities, quantum of disposal
of sewage presently through drains and the gaps in
sewage treatment capacity.
State
Government,
UDD, Water
Resource Dept.,
District
Administration
and Local
bodies
March 2020
2
To undertake measurement of flow of all the drains
presently contributing pollution load in rivers and
to formulate detailed project report (DPR) for each
drain and corresponding town and submission of
DPR.
State
Government,
UDD, Water
Resource Dept.,
District
Administration
and Local
bodies
March 2020
3
Proper design, execution of STPs with full
utilization capacity
State
Government,
UDD, Water
Resource Dept.,
District
Administration
and Local
bodies
March 2020
4 Channelization including diversion of sewage
generated from household/town ships/villages to
State
Government, March 2021
pg. 50
sewer lines/interception of all the drains presently
carrying sewage and for ensuring proper treatment
through the upcoming STPs
UDD, Water
Resource Dept.,
District
Administration
and Local
bodies
5
Ensuring dairy/automobile service stations and
Hotels / Restaurants particularly located on road-
side should have a treatment system and levy of
fine in case found Violations
Local
authorities March 2020
B Ground water quality
1 Sealing of contaminated hand pumps and found to
be unfit for drinking purpose by the public
Rural drinking
water and
Sanitation
Department and
Local
authorities
September
2020
2 Supply of potable water to the affected
communities in the identified critical blocks
Rural drinking
water and
Sanitation
Department and
Local
authorities
March 2020
3
Carrying assessment of ground water survey for
quality and to identify over exploited and critical
blocks in the districts
Ground Water
Authority March 2020
4
To conduct periodic surprise inspection of the
industry to rule out any forceful injection of
industrial effluents into ground water resource
JSPCB &
Ground Water
Authority
Continuous
5
All the industry should be directed to obtain NOC
from the CGWB and action against the Units in
Operation without obtaining of NOC from CGWA
CGWB/ CGWA
and .Ground
Water
Continuous
(The
proposed
pg. 51
Authority
new
industries
will be
directed to
obtain NOC
from
CGWA)
6
To ensure rain water harvesting by the industrial,
commercial and other institutions and groundwater
recharging with only clean water be encouraged by
CGWB/CGWA
CGWA/
Ground Water
Authority/
JSPCB
March 2020
C. Proposed Action Plan by various Department of Govt. of Jharkhand
Phases Actions Required
through work break
down structure
Role
Pre- Planning Phase
(Recognition Phase)
Identification of
problem related to river
health
JSPCB
Assessment of drivers
and barriers for the
problem
JSCPB, Industries, WRD,
UDHD
Assessment of
catchment and valley
area bio-physical
properties
WRD
Stakeholder
consultations and
development of road
map
River Rejuvenation
Committee
pg. 52
Planning Phase
(Restoration Phase)
Formation of core team
– Management -
technical team-
Community
mobilization team
River Rejuvenation
Committee
Survey of the river sites
and prioritization of
restoration measures
WRD, Industries, JSPCB,
UDHD
Community
mobilization
Industry, JSPCB, UDHD,
District Administration
Preparation of detailed
project report
(Technical and
Financial)
River Rejuvenation
Committee
Implementation Phase
(Protection Phase)
Prioritization of
measures
River Rejuvenation
Committee
Implementation of
measures
UDHD, Industry, JSPCB,
District Administration
Monitoring/Regulation
of the implantation
measures
JSPCB (Regulate and
Monitor),
JSPCB to work in
coordination of UDHD,
Industries, District
Administration to execute
the measures
Documentation of
measures
JSPCB, UDHD and
Industries
Scaling Up Phase
(Improvement Phase)
Identification of lesson River Rejuvenation
Committee
Review and
consultation
River Rejuvenation
Committee
Planning for second
phase
River Rejuvenation
Committee
pg. 53
D. Achievable water quality goals with specific timelines
Sl.No. ACTION TO BE TAKEN TIMELINES
1 Identification and Cleaning of major drains directly
falling into Rivers of Jharkhand
September 2020
2
Cleaning all tributary drains of Jharkhand River, –
Setting up of decentralized sewage treatment plants
and allied works
September 2020
3 Trapping/ cleaning of remaining identified drains
directly falling into River
September 2020
4 Dredging of major drains and stretches of River
bed
September 2020/
continuous process
5 Laying of sewerage system in un-sewered areas Master Plan, September
2020/ continuous process
6 Rehabilitation & up-gradation of old sewerage
infrastructure
September 2020/
continuous process
7 Bio remediation & development of public space
along all major drains
September 2020
E. Proposed Action Plan For Restoration Of Jharkhand Rivers Regular cleaning of River Bed for removal of Eichhornia Vegetation.
Removal of encroachment (Slum areas) & restriction on Bathing /washing activity all
along the river Bed.
Provision of sanitation facility (Such as Sulabh Sawchalaya) near slum area & dense
populated area to avoid open defecation. Provision of STP for Cities.
Treated sewage of the city will have to be utilized for irrigation / gardening purpose.
The treated sewage after disinfection shall be used for gardening or could be
commercially sold to Industries.
Various Municipal Councils can undertake the river front beautification activities and
rainwater harvesting project along the stretch of the river. Rainwater harvesting can
help in attaining the minimum flow in the river water for scouring the sediments and
dilution water availability.
Scavenging of river beds will have to be undertaken before onset of monsoon
pg. 54
F. Action Plan at Village Level:-
For Zilla Parishad: Joint action need to take by Zilha Parishad, Irrigation & Agriculture
Departments. Agriculture Department shall undertake public awareness program to convey
that agriculture / horticulture by untreated river water is unhygienic. Instead bulk sewage /
sullage flowing in the rivers, nallas will have to be treated by artificial wet land systems.
Such systems rely on natural purification by photosynthesis and subsequent aeration by
“emergent macrophytes”. Pathogens are destroyed during the process. Such systems will be
suitable for small villages also. Effluent of artificial wet land system can be safely used for
agriculture because it will be free from pathogens. Zilla Parishad should pass a resolution that
it will spare appropriate land for artificial wet land system.
For Gram Panchayats: A resolution has to be passed by each Gram Panchayat of banks of
river that, they will not allow sewage / sullage from their respective villages to enter the river.
Further they should also provide sulabh shauchalay in villages to avoid open defecation.
Narrow-bore sewerage has been recommended for wastewater treatment. Water supply and
sanitation department of Govt. of Jharkhand should provide proto type designs for narrow-
bore sewerage followed by a stabilization pond.
G. Status of Flood Plain Zone and Environmental Flow (E-Flow)
Sl.No. Action plan for rejuvenation of river Concerned Dept. Time Target
A Flood Plain Zone (FPZ)
1 Plantation in Flood Plain Zone (FPZ)
Forest,
Environment &
Climate Change
June 2020
2 Checking encroachments in the FPZ of river District /Local
Administration Regular
3 Prohibition of disposal of municipal plastic and
bio- medical waste particularly in drains
Local
Administration
September
2020
4 Protection and management of flood plain zone State
Government/Water
Up to March
2020 and
execution of
pg. 55
Resource
Department
agreement by
October 2019
B Environmental Flow (E-Flow) and Irrigation Practices
1 Measurement of flow in the river and records
maintained
Water Resource
Department Regular
2
To conserve water and good irrigation practices
to be adopted by the farmers by organizing mass
awareness programmes and through media in
vernacular language.
Water Resource
Department/
Agriculture Dept.
Continuous
3 Completion of work for issues related to E-flow Water Resource
Department
Up to March
2020
execution of
agreement by
October 2019
4 Completion of work related ground water
recharge/rain water harvesting
Water Resource
Department
Up to March
2020
execution of
agreement by
October 2019
pg. 56
Annexure-III (To be revised, as monitoring and regulation to be done by JSPCB)
TIMELINES FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF MODEL RESTORATION PLAN in 2019-2020 and 2020-2021
YEAR 2019-2020 2020-2021
QUARTER QUARTER III QUARTER IV QUARTER I QUARTER II QUARTER III QUARTER IV
PHASES AND ACTION YEAR JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC
Pre- Planning Phase: (Recognition)
Gathering of information of non-identified
polluted river stretch I
Reconnaissance survey sampling of river I
Assessment of water quality I
Planning Phase: (Restoration)
Identification of sources of pollution I
Preparation of Detailed Project Report I
In-situ bioremediation of drains II
Implementation Phase: (Protection)
Assessment of Treatment technologies,
available river flow, prevailing discharge
standards
II
Setting up of sewage treatment plants
(STPs)/Effluent treatment plants (ETPs)/
CETP
II
Complying the regulation under JSPCB for
existing industries, causing the pollution
based on survey data
I&II
Setting up tertiary level sewage treatment
facilities for grossly polluted stretches devoid
of perennial fresh water flow
II
Scaling Up Phase: (Improvement)
Augment river flow, if feasible II