GUWAHATI: In an alarming development, 44 rivers in the state have been listed as the most polluted rivers in India, revealed Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Prakash Javadekar in a question-answer session of the Lok Sabha.
The revelation is based on data provided by Central and State Pollution Control Boards.
The data also revealed that 16 rivers in Assam were listed in the most polluted rivers in the country list in the last one and half years.
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The rate of pollution of the rivers and water bodies of Assam has also been increasing at a very high rate.
Currently there are 351 polluted rivers in India.
The list of the polluted rivers in Assam includes Bharalu, Brahmaputra, Bhogdoi, Beki, Jiyabharali, Kalang, Kapili, Janji, Puthimari, Ronganadi, among others.
It should be mentioned that the Central government is currently preparing a scheme to protect and cleanse the rivers, excluding Ganges and its tributaries, under Water (prevention and control of pollution) act of 1974.
However, the river Brahmaputra has not been included in the scheme.