5.3.3. Control Measures

1) Riparian buffers

2) Treatment of sewage water and the industrial effluents should be done before releasing it into water bodies.

3) Hot water should be cooled before release from the power plants

4) Domestic cleaning in tanks, streams and rivers, which supply drinking water, should be prohibited.

5) Excessive use of fertilizers and pesticides should be avoided.

6) Organic farming and efficient use of animal residues as fertilizers.

7) Water hyacinth (an aquatic weed) can purify water by taking some toxic materials and a number of heavy metals from water.

8) Oil spills in water can be cleaned with the help of bregoli - a by-product of paper industry resembling saw dust, oil zapper, micro-organisms.

The steps taken by the Government to address the issues of water pollution include the following:-

i. Preparation of action plan for sewage management and restoration of water quality in aquatic resources by State Governments;

ii. Installation of Online Effluent Monitoring System to check the discharge of effluent directly into the rivers and water bodies;

iii. Setting up of monitoring network for assessment of water quality;

iv. Action to comply with effluent standards is taken by SPCBs / PCCs to improve the water quality of the rivers;

v. Financial assistance for installation of Common Effluent Treatment Plants for cluster of Small Scale Industrial units;

vi. Issuance of directions for implementation of Zero Liquid Discharge;

vii. Issuance of directions under Section 5 of Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 to industries and under Section 18(1)(b) of Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974;

viii. Implementation of National Lake Conservation Plan (NLCP) and National Wetland Conservation Programme (NWCP) for conservation and management of identified lakes and wetlands in the country which have been merged in February, 2013 into an integrated scheme of National Plan for Conservation of Aquatic

Eco-systems (NPCA) to undertake various conservation activities including interception, diversion and treatment of waste water, pollution abatement, lake beautification, biodiversity conservation, education and awareness creation, community participation etc.