Of the 32 projects approved under Namami Gange in 15 towns along the Ganga river in Uttarakhand, 15 have been completed, 16 are under progress and the tender process is underway in one. This was stated in a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat to review works under the Namami Gange programme.

Apart from the 32 projects approved in 15 towns along the Ganga, approval was also granted in September for sewage treatment plants (STPs) along the Rispana and Bindal rivers in Dehradun. The 32 approved projects include construction of STPs, upgradation of STPs, tapping of drains and construction of bathing and cremation ghats.

Addressing the officials, the Chief Minister directed them to lay special focus on quality of construction works. All the works should be completed within the given time limit. The works should also be coordinated with the river front development works underway to prevent impediment to construction works in the future. Rawat reviewed the works related to sewerage infrastructure, irrigation and works by WAPCOS and forest department under Namami Gange in detail.

Officials informed in the meeting that currently the STP capacity in Haridwar is 63 MLD wheres four other plants are also being constructed. Work is being undertaken on a 3.65 kilometre long sewer line in Arihant Vihar, New Vishnu Garden and Kankhal while some STPs are being upgraded. Completion of these projects will increase the combined STP capacity in Haridwar city to 127 MLD. Reviewing STP and drain tapping works in Muni ki Reti, Tapovan, Rishikesh,Devprayag, Uttarkashi,Gangotri, Kirtinagar,Srinagar, Rudraprayag, Karnprayag, Nandprayag, Chamoli-Gopeshwar, Joshimath and Badrinath, the chief minister directed that these works should be completed by December 2018. WAPCOS is to construct 12 bathing ghats and 11 cremation ghats on four stretches.

Construction of bathing and cremation ghats at Chandighat is underway, which the CM said should be completed by the end of December. The other ghats have been constructed.

The irrigation department is constructing nine bathing and 11 cremation ghats on four stretches. One of these 20 ghats has been constructed while more than 70 per cent work in the remaining ghats has been completed. Rawat directed irrigation department officials to complete all these works by December 31.

Potable Water Minister Prakash Pant, secretary Arvind Singh Hyanki, Namami Gange programme director Udayraj Singh and other departmental officials were also present in the meeting.