CPCB Report Polluted River Stretches for Restoration of Water Quality 2025: 296 Polluted River Stretches Identified
SDG 6: Clean Water & Sanitation | SDG 14: Life Below Water
Institutions: Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change | State Pollution Control Boards
The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has released its report “Polluted River Stretches for Restoration of Water Quality – 2025”. Based on monitoring data from 2022–23 across 4736 sites (including 2155 river locations) under the National Water Quality Monitoring Programme (NWMP), CPCB identified 296 polluted river stretches (PRS) across 271 rivers in 32 States/UTs.
The assessment, based on Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) exceedance criteria, shows progress: polluted stretches have declined from 351 in 2018 to 296 in 2025, reflecting improved sewage treatment, effluent management, and enforcement. 220 stretches improved water quality, with 149 stretches no longer classified as polluted (notably in Assam, Goa, Gujarat, Kerala, Odisha, West Bengal). A further 71 stretches shifted to lower pollution priority.
Yet challenges persist: 85 stretches remain unchanged, including 25 Priority I stretches with BOD >30 mg/L (the most critical category). These hotspots underline gaps in waste management and river self-cleansing capacity. States are mandated to update River Rejuvenation Action Plans via River Rejuvenation Committees (RRCs), with progress monitored by the Central Monitoring Committee (CMC) under the Ministry of Jal Shakti.
This report demonstrates measurable progress in river rejuvenation, but also signals where urgent interventions remain. For India’s water governance, PRS data provides the evidence base to prioritise sewage treatment capacity expansion, industrial effluent control, solid waste management, and community-led river protection. With schemes like Namami Gange and state-level action plans, integrating PRS data with river basin management will be crucial to achieving SDG 6 targets and meeting NGT directions.
What is BOD? → Biochemical Oxygen Demand measures the amount of oxygen needed by microorganisms to break down organic matter in water. A higher BOD indicates higher pollution and lower water quality.
What is a Polluted River Stretch (PRS)? → A section of river identified by CPCB where BOD levels exceed the Primary Water Quality Criteria for Outdoor Bathing (3.0 mg/L), requiring restoration action.
What is CPCB? → The Central Pollution Control Board, a statutory body under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, coordinates with State Pollution Control Boards to monitor and control water pollution across India.
Follow the full report here: CPCB Report – Polluted River Stretches for Restoration of Water Quality 2025