By NewsGram Staff Writer

The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, today approved the 'Namami Gange' Program. With a budget outlay of Rs. 20,000 crore for the next 5 years, the program incorporates the efforts to clean and protect River Ganga in a comprehensive manner.

Marking a major shift in implementation, the Government is focusing on involving people living on the banks of the river to attain sustainable results. Drawing from the lessons learnt from previous implementation, the program also focuses on involving the States and grassroots level institutions such as Urban Local Bodies and Panchayati Raj Institutions in implementation.

The program would be implemented by the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG), and its state counterpart organizations i.e., State Program Management Groups (SPMGs). NMCG will also establish field offices wherever necessary.

Major infrastructure investments which fall under the original mandate of other ministries viz. Urban Development (UD), Drinking Water & Sanitation (DWS), Environment Forests & Climate Change (EF&CC) etc., will be undertaken in addition.

Considerably, the approach is sustained by socio-economic gains that the program is anticipated to deliver in terms of job creation, improved livelihoods and health benefits to the huge population that is dependent on the river.