How Uma Bharti plans to counter 764 grossly polluting industries to give us Clean Ganga

By Newsgram Staff Writer

Under the plan to revive River Ganga, National Ganga River Basin Authority has resolved that by the year 2020 no untreated municipal sewage or industrial effluent will be discharged into River Ganga, Ganga Rejuvenation Minsiter Uma Bharti told Rajya Sabha.

"Pollution abatement and cleaning of river Ganga is an ongoing and collaborative effort of the Central and State Governments. "Namami Gange", an Integrated Ganga Conservation Mission has been set up under NGRBA for rejuvenation of river Ganga and its tributaries, " the minister said.

Talking about the root cause of Ganga's poor hygiene, Uma Bharti said, "The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has identified 764 Grossly Polluting Industries (GPIs) discharging industrial effluents and 56 Class – I Cities & 31 Class – II towns discharging waste water into river Ganga. "

The Government has launched an 'Integrated Ganga Conservation Mission' – 'Namami Gange' in June, 2014, which approaches Ganga Rejuvenation based on learning lessons from the past, and by consolidating the existing ongoing efforts, Bharti added.

The Government has started the 'National Ganga River Basin Authority' (NGRBA) for funding pollution abatement projects on 70:30 cost sharing basis between Centre and States. This includes a World Bank assisted National Ganga River Basin Project (NGRBP) for Rs. 7000 crore, a Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) assisted Project at Varanasi for Rs. 496.90 crores and projects with Government's own resources.