Chief Minister Harish Rawat, in a letter addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi has requested that work be expedited complaining that the Central Government was not taking cognisance of the 25 detailed project reports amounting to `951 crore under the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG).
Rawat stated this in a letter, being unable to visit Delhi due to the disaster scenario in Uttarakhand, to attended the sixth National Ganga River Basin Authority meeting held in New Delhi on Monday.
Uttarakhand’s resident commissioner SD Sharma, represented Rawat in the NGRBA meeting stating contents of the CM’s letter addressed to the PM with a copy of the same being forwarded to the Union minister for Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, Uma Bharti.
The CM stated that 25 DPRs of the State amounting to `951.98 crore under the NMCG were not being taken cognisence of while the DPR prepared by WAPCOS submitted later was accorded approval with directions of the NGRBA and National Green Tribunal not being observed in the case.
According to a statement issued by the State authorities, Rawat stated in his letter that contradictory to the NGRBA framework, WAPCOS has been appointed as the executing agency and the project management consultant at the same timef which may give rise to conflict of interest.
Twelve DPRs related to STP biodigesters amounting to `578.83 crore sent by the State executing agencies, eight DPRs for upgradation of STPs amounting to `143.07 crore were submitted between May 2015 and May 2016 to the Centre by the State authorities.
The `238.08 crore DPR related to solid waste management was submitted to the Centre between December 2014 and May 2015. The CM’s letter further avers that the Uttarakhand Peyjal Nigam has done commendable work in the field of sewage treatment plant.
As part of Swachchh Bharat Mission, work is underway to eradicate open defecation in areas under 132 Gram Panchayats in Uttarakhand with 40 per cent of these Panchayats already having achieved their target. The target in remaining 92 Gram Panchayats is expected to be achieved by August 15. These villages need liquid and solid waste management biodigester facilitation, added the CM.
Rawat further informed through his letter that the State Government is encouraging plantation of trees along the banks of the Ganga river
with bonus also being awarded to those meeting the conditions stated in the plantation scheme.
Additionally, non-governmental organisations, Gram Panchayat and Van Panchayats are also being awarded bonus for construction of storage tanks and water reservoirs in Uttarakhand, he added.