Maarg Manthan · Topic 19.17

National River Conservation Plan

Environment & Ecology › Environmental Institutions and Schemes in India · Topic 19.17

The National River Conservation Plan (NRCP) is a centrally sponsored scheme of the Ministry of Jal Shakti (earlier the Ministry of Environment and Forests) to improve the water quality of rivers by pollution abatement works in towns along them. It grew out of the Ganga Action Plan, launched in 1986, and after its second phase began in 1993 the Government extended the approach to other rivers, forming the National River Conservation Directorate and the NRCP in 1995. The scheme covers rivers other than the Ganga basin work under Namami Gange; by recent counts it had covered about 34 rivers in 77 towns in 16 states. The works include interception and diversion of sewage and drains, sewage treatment plants, low-cost sanitation, electric or improved wood crematoria, river-front development and ghats, and afforestation and public awareness. The cost sharing pattern between the Centre and states was 100 percent central in the early years and later became 70:30 (and 60:40 or 90:10 for special category states), with states responsible for operation and maintenance. Related plans are the Yamuna Action Plan, begun in 1993 with Japanese loan assistance, the Gomti Action Plan, and the National Plan for Conservation of Aquatic Ecosystems (NPCA). River stretches are prioritised using CPCB data on biochemical oxygen demand, and polluted stretches were counted at hundreds in the CPCB reports. Challenges include unfinished sewers, poorly working plants, low flows and industrial pollution.

5 min read · UPSC Prelims · Environment & Ecology · Environmental Institutions and Schemes in India

At a Glance

Origin Ganga Action Plan, 1986
NRCP formed 1995
Works Sewage, crematoria, ghats
Cost share 70:30 later
Related Yamuna Action Plan
Exam link UPSC Prelims, Environment & Ecology: Environmental Institutions and Schemes in India

Where Does It Fit?

This topic follows the National Afforestation Programme and presents the broader river cleaning plan that came from the Ganga Action Plan, complementing the earlier Namami Gange topic. Previous topic: National Afforestation Programme. Next topic: National Action Programme to Combat Desertification.

What Does the National River Conservation Plan Do?

Aspect	Details
Origin	Ganga Action Plan from 1986 and GAP II from 1993; NRCP set up in 1995 covering other rivers
Agency	National River Conservation Directorate under the Ministry of Jal Shakti
Coverage	About 34 rivers in 77 towns across 16 states in recent counts
Works	Interception and diversion of drains, sewage treatment plants, low-cost sanitation, crematoria, river-front development, afforestation
Funding	Centre-state sharing, with 70:30 as the usual pattern and different ratios for special category states
Priority	Stretches with high BOD and large urban loads
O&M	States are to operate and maintain the assets

Yamuna Action Plan: began 1993 with Japanese loan; phases I, II and later
Gomti Action Plan: for the Gomti river at Lucknow
NPCA: National Plan for Conservation of Aquatic Ecosystems, merging the lake and wetland plans in 2013
Polluted stretches: CPCB identifies priority stretches where BOD is high
Issues: incomplete sewerage, unused plants, power cuts, poor O&M
Urban growth: sewage grows faster than treatment capacity
Industrial effluent: needs separate treatment
Link: environmental flows and river basin management are missing in older plans

What Else Should You Remember?

GAP I: launched 14 June 1986 at Varanasi with 100 percent central funding
GAP II: 1993, extended to tributaries like Yamuna, Gomti, Damodar and Mahananda
NRCP: GAP II was merged into the NRCP in 1995
NRCD: National River Conservation Directorate, created in 1995
Funding ratio: 100 percent central until 2001, then 70:30 until revised, and in recent times states had a share
Special category: North-eastern states and others receive higher central share
Japan Bank for International Cooperation: funded the Yamuna Action Plan
Yamuna Action Plan III: focused on Delhi
Yamuna in Delhi: the 22 km stretch from Wazirabad to Okhla carries a large part of the pollution load
Gomti: Lucknow’s drains
Cauvery, Krishna, Godavari: other rivers under the plan
Pollution load: domestic sewage is the main source
Electric crematoria: reduce wood use and ash in rivers
Low cost sanitation: toilets to reduce open defecation near rivers
Interception and diversion: catching drains before they reach the river
Sewage treatment technology: UASB, activated sludge and waste stabilisation ponds were used
CAG: reports on the NRCP found delays and unused capacity
Evaluation: water quality improved in some stretches, but not enough
National Green Tribunal: orders on Yamuna and other rivers
New focus: river basin management, e-flows and rejuvenation projects
Link to previous: see National Afforestation Programme
Link to next: see National Action Programme to Combat Desertification
Link to Ganga: see Namami Gange Programme and Ganga Rejuvenation Plan
Caution: numbers of rivers and towns change, so check the Jal Shakti Ministry website
Exam hint: remember GAP 1986, NRCP 1995 and the standard works
Sewage gap: Indian cities generate far more sewage than they treat, so adding plants only in towns on the river leaves the larger part of the load untreated
Public participation: The plan includes awareness, community toilets and people’s monitoring so that residents care for ghats and drains
River-front work: Ghat improvement and bathing areas are meant to reduce direct disposal of waste and ash in the river
Water quality monitoring: Bodies such as the CPCB and state boards monitor biochemical oxygen demand and dissolved oxygen to judge progress
Operation and maintenance: Plants built under the plan often stay idle without power, trained staff and fee collection, which is why states are made responsible
Reuse of treated water: Treated sewage can be used for irrigation, industry and gardens, reducing the demand on the river and the discharge into it
Industrial pollution: Industrial effluent is regulated through pollution control boards, not funded under the plan

Why Does It Matter for the Exam?

GAP: 1986
NRCP: 1995
Works: Interception, STP, crematoria
Current affairs link: Yamuna clean-up
Common errors: saying NRCP covers only the Ganga

As an analytical point, the NRCP built infrastructure in many towns, but results lagged because treatment capacity, operation and flows did not match growing cities. Moving from plants to river basin management, with environmental flows, is the lesson.

Why Is This Topic Important?

Works Sewage, ghats
Gap O&M
Shift Basin plan

What Came Next?

The next topic covers the National Action Programme to Combat Desertification. Next topic: National Action Programme to Combat Desertification.

Key People and Terms

NRCP National River Conservation Plan
NRCD National River Conservation Directorate
GAP Ganga Action Plan
YAP Yamuna Action Plan
NPCA Aquatic ecosystem plan
I&D Interception and diversion

Exam Corner

Points to Remember

GAP: 1986; NRCP: 1995.
About 34 rivers, 77 towns.
Works: interception, STPs, crematoria.
Yamuna plan: 1993.
Ministry: Jal Shakti.

Do Not Confuse With

NRCP and Namami Gange Other rivers versus Ganga mission
GAP and YAP Ganga versus Yamuna plan
NRCP and NPCA Rivers versus lakes and wetlands

Memory Hook

Eighty-six for Ganga, ninety-five for all rivers: tap the drain, treat the load.

Mains Angle

Questions ask for origin and works. These points help.

Origin GAP to NRCP
Works Sewage
Gaps O&M

A Question You May Face

An original practice question, not a past paper question.

“Examine the National River Conservation Plan and the reasons for its limited success.”

How to Answer

Origin GAP.
NRCP Works.
Cases Yamuna.
Gaps O&M.

GS Relevance

Prelims: origin, works, rivers. GS Paper 3: river pollution schemes.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the National River Conservation Plan?

The National River Conservation Plan is a centrally sponsored scheme of the Ministry of Jal Shakti, set up in 1995 as an extension of the Ganga Action Plan, to improve water quality in rivers through pollution abatement in towns on their banks. It funds sewage interception, treatment plants, crematoria, low-cost sanitation and river-front works.

How is the NRCP different from Namami Gange?

The NRCP covers rivers other than those under Namami Gange, and has been running since 1995 with a focus on towns and sewage projects. Namami Gange is a newer, larger flagship mission for the Ganga basin since 2015, with its own institutions, performance-based sewage plant contracts and a wider range of river rejuvenation measures.

What is the Yamuna Action Plan?

The Yamuna Action Plan was launched in 1993 to clean the Yamuna in Haryana, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh, with loan help from Japan. It built sewage treatment plants and drains in many towns, but the stretch through Delhi remains highly polluted because of untreated sewage and industrial discharge.

What types of works are carried out under the NRCP?

Typical works are interception and diversion of drains to treatment plants, building sewage treatment plants, low-cost sanitation to reduce open defecation, electric or improved wood-based crematoria, river-front and ghat development, afforestation and public awareness, with states responsible for later operation and maintenance.

Why has the NRCP had limited success?

Reasons include sewage growing faster than treatment capacity, incomplete sewer networks, plants lying idle because of power or maintenance problems, industrial effluent not treated, low river flows, delays and weak accountability of states for operation. Today attention is shifting to basin-wide management and environmental flows.

PYQ Practice — Statement Analysis

1 The NRCP was created in 1995.

True

From the Ganga Action Plan.

2 The Yamuna Action Plan began in 1993.

True

With Japanese loan.

3 The NRCP covers only the Ganga.

False

It covers other rivers.

4 The Ganga Action Plan was launched in 1996.