Mon Sep 22 16:38:00 UTC 2025: **FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE**
**Indian Rivers Showing Signs of Improvement, Though Still Heavily Polluted, Report Finds**
**NEW DELHI, September 22, 2025** – A new report released by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) reveals a slight decrease in the number of locations in Indian rivers deemed unfit for bathing. In 2023, 807 locations were identified as having unacceptable levels of pollution, down from 815 in 2022.
The CPCB monitors the health of India’s rivers by measuring Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD), a key indicator of organic pollution. A BOD level above 3 milligrams per liter signifies that the water is unfit for bathing. Locations exceeding this level continuously are classified as “polluted river stretches” (PRS).
The report indicates that in 2023, there were 296 PRS in 271 rivers, a reduction from 311 PRS in 279 rivers the previous year. Maharashtra leads with 54 PRS, followed by Kerala (31), Madhya Pradesh and Manipur (18 each), and Karnataka (14).
Significantly, the number of the most severely polluted stretches, classified as “Priority 1” (BOD exceeding 30 mg/L), has decreased from 45 to 37. There have also been reductions in “Priority 4” and “Priority 5”. Conversely, there has been an increase in PRS categorized as “Priority 2” and “Priority 3”, suggesting progress in remediation efforts as river stretches move to lower pollution categories.
The CPCB monitors water quality at 4,736 locations across India, including rivers, lakes, and canals. Following a 2018 report highlighting river pollution, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) mandated that the CPCB and the Jal Shakti Ministry monitor river pollution and enforce measures to address it. States were also directed to implement action plans to restore rivers, ensuring they are at least fit for bathing.
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