Saloni Gupta

XLRI School of Business & Human Resources | Class of ’10

Tackling the challenge of River Pollution

Problem analysis

Multi – stakeholder approach

Action plans & performance

Impact & Performance Monitoring

 The current situation is above the danger mark

The River pollution problem has far reaching effects on many aspects of life.
A few examples
• India’s 14 major and 55 minor rivers receive over a million tonnes of sewage/ day
• Most rivers running over D levels (excessive levels – unfit ) of pollution levels
• Ganga polluted over 5000 times permissible levels
• Stretches of Yamuna devoid of all aquatic life for over a decade
• High percentages of Fluoride, Arsenic, Nitrate etc. which cause severe environmental and
physical damage
River pollution in India has enormous environmental, economic, social, health
related implications. It is an issue which demands immediate action.

Problem Multi – Impact &

Action plans &
stakeholder Performance
analysis performance
model Monitoring
 Involvement of all the stakeholders is crucial to
handle the enormous task

Numerous Unilateral Government efforts have failed to produce any tangible results.
Rivers in India are increasingly getting polluted every second
•Any one solution or
plan might have short
term, or limited results
for e.g. in Project Ganga
• The enormous task can Government
be handled better with bodies & Public
an involvement of all Industries Private
stakeholders partnerships
NGOs
• A multi pronged, multi
– contributor approach Society
is required to handle this
project

Problem Multi – Impact &

Action plans &
stakeholder Performance
analysis performance
model Monitoring
 Various stakeholders are the ones who are directly
or indirectly involved with the issue

The rationale for involvement of following stakeholders

Government Agencies
• Legislative, Executionary & Judicial bodies provide a basic framework for the
pollution control
• Have already initiated a number of pollution control projects
• Sole authority to implement laws and enforce standards
Public Private partnerships
• Initiation of public private partnerships for this specific sector can lead to more
effective utilization of resources, as proved by successful ventures abroad
• Rapid deployment of state of art technology, owing to profit motives
Industries
• Major sources of river pollution, hence responsible for pollution control &
largely responsible for success of the pollution control ventures
Society
• Biggest contributor and victim of river pollution

Multi – Impact &

Problem analysis Action plans &
stakeholder Performance
performance
model Monitoring
 Specific action plans for each of the stakeholders
is essential to clarify roles and bring ownership

Government Public Private Partners

• Increasing efficiency in enforcing • Deployment of state of

pollution control regulations
• Bringing about stringent
regulations for the pollution control
• Consideration of environmental
factors while framing policies
• Empowerment of pollution control
boards - Thousands of cases, handful
of convictions
• Economic incentives, tax subsidies for
pollution control
technology for pollution control
for example – Reverse osmosis
filters etc.
• Efficient utilization of funds for
pollution control projects
• Accountability for tangible
performance standards
• Speedy and efficient execution
of projects

Problem Multi – Impact &

stakeholder Action plans & Performance
analysis performance
model Monitoring
 Resources for the plans - The cost of pollution
control and safe water provisioning in India

As per the Centre of Science & Environment, the cost of water pollution control is much
lesser than the impending economic costs river pollution
A. Damage costs Rs. Billion
a Annual water pollution and sanitation related damage 366
costs 3.95% of GDP
B. Avoidance costs
a - Pollution abatement in organized industry 10.1
b - Pollution abatement in Small Scale Industry 45.98
T
c - Wastewater treatment in 3696 cities/towns 3.62 to 10.54
d - Provision of toilets to 115 million households 35.3 to 56.63
e - Provision of safe drinking water 39.3
Annualized cost (Capital + 20% O& M Costs) 161.18 to 195

Annual cost as % of GDP 1.7 to 2.1%

Problem Multi – Impact &
stakeholder Action plans & Performance
analysis performance
model Monitoring
 Specific action plans for each of the stakeholders
is essential to clarify roles and bring ownership

Industries Society

• Stringent following of the pollution • Active participation in river

control regulations
• Steps to become Carbon and water
positive at least neutral
• Consideration of environmental
impact as a business policy
• Treatment of waste water at source
• Compulsory Recycling and
treatment of water
pollution control mechanisms
• Awareness and following waste
water management, solid waste
management etc.
• Use or organic fertilizers, pesticides
• Responsible use of water bodies

Initiatives which are important for river pollution control are – economic
initiatives, institutional interventions, eco – entrepreneurship etc.

Problem Multi – Impact &

stakeholder Action plans & Performance
analysis performance
model Monitoring
 Performance monitoring and impact analysis are
crucial for the success of various initiatives
To ensure effectiveness of various initiatives and implement them successfully,
performance & impact measurement is critical.
Various cost effective measures of monitoring are present which can be deployed

Problem Multi – Impact &

stakeholder Action plans & Performance
analysis performance
model Monitoring
Thank You