The Ministry of Water Resources and Ganga Rejuvenation has allotted Rs 263 crores for the construction of rural toilets as a measure to check pollution of Ganga. The project will be implemented in coordination with the Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation. Plans are also afoot for the construction of bio-digester toilets as a part of Namami Gange programme in the villages by the banks of the river to check sewerage disposal in the river.

This was stated by the Minister of Water Resources & Ganga Rejuvenation Uma Bharati in the Swachh Ganga-Gramin Sehbhagita,  a meeting with village heads and Union Ministers to discuss the role and participation of local villagers residing along the banks of the river,  in Ganga cleaning

Nearly1600 village heads attended  this national level stakeholder consultation and sensitization programme on Saturday. It was organised by the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG). Bharati while elaborating on the extensive role of rural population in Namami Gange pointed out that sewage disposal into the river must be controlled.  Contaminated water cannot be allowed to drain into the river, she added.

The Minister informed that field surveys are being done to assess the ground status of drains flowing into the rivers. Efforts are also on to divert such contaminated water into agricultural fields with biotic treatment. local villagers will be involved in the process of water treatment mechanism.

 She further exhorted them to give up the habit of open defecation.   “I have found that even if rural toilets have been constructed, there are no users.”  The meeting also highlighted successful models for treatment of sewage.  One of these models include the system practiced in Seenchewal village in Jallandhar.

According to this model, sewage is collected in a pond in the village. After being treated in a natural way, water is used for irrigation. Even waste is collected and composted for reuse through community participation. Besides checking pollution, this model also helps in recharging the water table.

Further, A portal, called Ganga Vichar Manch, was launched on the occasion to initiate interactive dialogueson the Ganga cleaning mission .Prominent amongst those who attended the meet include Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari, HRD Minister Smriti Irani, Minister of Drinking water & Sanitation Dr. Mahesh Sharma, Chief Minister of Uttarakhand Harish Rawat amongst others.