Cleaning of Ganga was initiated in 1985 under Ganga Action Plan (GAP). Ganga Action Plan (GAP) Phase-I was launched as a centrally funded scheme in 1985 and later GAP Phase-II was initiated in 1993. The Central Government set up the ‘National Ganga River Basin Authority’ (NGRBA) in 2009 as an empowered planning, financing, monitoring and coordinating authority for the Ganga River, to ensure effective abatement of pollution and conservation of the river Ganga by adopting a holistic approach with the river basin as the unit of planning.
The various types of pollution abatement schemes taken up to clean Ganga may be categorized into core and non-core schemes. Core Schemes include Interception and diversion (I&D) of sewage discharging into the Ganga river and creating treatment infrastructure to treat the intercepted sewage. Non-Core Schemes include Providing Low Cost Sanitation (LCS) at community and individual levels at identified locations, Installation of Crematoria (electric as well as wood based improved crematoria), River Front Development (RFD) including bathing ghats, Afforestation, protecting bio-diversity and creating Public awareness and participation.
Under both phases of GAP, a total of 575 schemes have been sanctioned for undertaking pollution abatement activities in the identified polluted stretches of the river Ganga, of which 524 schemes with a capacity to treat Pollution load of 1098 million litres per day (mld) have been established (869 mld and 229 mld under GAP-I and II respectively). Under NGRBA, 96 projects has been sanctioned in 53 towns. These include 58 projects related to creation of 808.23 MLD new STP and rehabilitation of 1089.00 MLD and laying / rehabilitation of 3627.15 Km sewer network. In addition, there are 25 river Front Development projects which include creation of Ghats, Crematoria, Public and River interface and promenade.
The total expenditure under the GAP Phase – I & II is Rs. 938.57 crore till 31st March, 2013.Under NGRBA, a total expenditure of Rs. 1664.73 crore has been incurred till December 2015 for implementation of schemes under NGRBA.
The objective of the Namami Gange Programme is to improve the quality of water of river Ganga by the year 2020. The approach is to ensure that no untreated waste water enters the river. Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) monitors the quality of water at 57 monitoring stations along the river Ganga regularly. A proposal for installing 113 Real-time monitoring stations is under implementation. Tenders have been issued for supply of 36 real time monitors in the first phase.
Conservation of rivers is a continuous and ongoing process. Cleaning of river Ganga and its tributaries is being undertaken by Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation (MOWR, RD & GR) under Namami Gange programme while Ministry of Environment, Forests & Climate Change (MoEF & CC) has been supplementing the efforts of the State Governments in abatement of pollution in identified stretches of various rivers under the National River Conservation Plan (NRCP).
This information was given by Union Minister for Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation Sushri Uma Bharti in a written reply in Rajya Sabha today.
Source: PIB
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