In its Annual Action Plan for the year 2008-09, the Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB) has given the highest priority to pollution control in identified river stretches and lakes within the time frame of March 2009.

The river stretches include Ambika, Khari, Tapi, Amlakhadi, Kolak, Purna, Mahi, Mindhola, Dhadhar, Bhadar and Sabarmati, while the lakes are Kankaria, Sursagar and Ranmal.

For this, the GPCB is considering reviewing all the permissions granted to dispose trade effluents and sewage into the water bodies of the state. At the same time, the Common Effluent Treatment Plants are being upgraded through ongoing performance studies.

In addition to this, GPCB is also monitoring coastal waters surrounding the outfall of disposal pipelines with respect to the National Institute of Oceanography report. As per the report, all outfalls must be into the sea. A provision of water metres on bore well lines of all water intensive industrial units is also being looked into.

Another important measure that the GPCB is considering is the installation of two low- cost Sewage Treatment Plants (STP) with water cess fund, one in Visnagar in Mehsana and the other in Viramgam in Ahmedabad. Two other STPs are also being planned in Limbi in Surendranagar and Kalol in Panchmahals with support from Department of Environment and Forests.