Bhubaneswar, Dec 2: As many as sixteen locations across various rivers in Odisha have been identified as polluted, the state Assembly was informed on Tuesday.

Forest, Environment and Climate Change Minister Ganesh Ram Singh Khuntia shared the details while responding to a question in the House.

He said the polluted stretches include parts of the Kathajodi river in Cuttack, the Daya river and Gangua nullah in Bhubaneswar, the Kushabhadra near Bhingarpur in Gop, and sections of the Brahmani river and Guradi nullah in Rourkela.

According to the Minister, most of the contamination is caused by urban wastewater and the overextraction of river water.

To address the issue, the state government has launched several corrective measures. Urban local bodies have been directed to stop waste discharge into rivers, while district administrations, the Urban Development Department, the Public Health Engineering Organisation, and Water Supply and Sanitation authorities have been instructed to work in coordination.

He added that efforts are underway to improve river flow, develop riverfronts, and construct toilets along riverbanks to curb open defecation.