Bhubaneswar: At least 16 spots in different rivers in Odisha have been identified as polluted, the state Assembly was informed on Tuesday.
This information was shared by Forest, Environment and Climate Change Minister Ganesh Ram Singh Khuntia while answering a question in the House.
Polluted stretches have been reported at Kathajodi river in Cuttack, Daya river and Gangua nullah in Bhubaneswar, Kushabhadra near Bhingar
pur in Gop, and parts of the Brahmani river and Guradi nullah in Rourkela, he said.
These rivers are getting polluted primarily because of urban wastewater and excessive usage of river water, the Minister said.
Several measures have been taken by the state government to check water pollution in these river stretches. Urban local bodies have been directed to take steps in order to prevent the discharge of waste into rivers, the Minister said.
Similarly, district administrations, Urban Development Department, the Public Health Engineering Organisation (PHEO) and the Water Supply and Sanitation authorities have been asked to take coordinated action, he said.
This apart, a number of steps are being taken to increase river flow, develop riverfronts and construct toilets to stop open defecation near riverbanks, he said.