The first phase of Namami Gange slated to be completed in October end is yet to gain grounds in the city of Ganga. The stone laying ceremony of 250 projects under the Namami Gange scheme was done on Rishikul grounds but the harsh reality remains that untreated water is still drained directly into Ganga stream and the capacity of STP’s has not been enhanced. As per the Minister of water resources Uma Bharti, people would see clean and serene Ganga by 2018 but till now taping of drains is yet to see the light of the day.
Touching the emotional chord of the thousands present during the launch of 231 projects on cleanliness of ganga under the flagship of centre’s ambitious project of Namami Gange, the Minister of water resources Uma Bharti had announced on July 7 this year that ‘Nari aur nadi’ (woman and river) had been struggling for years for saving their existence and the time had come for their revival. The Minister had also announced to undertake pilgrimage of Ganga from Gangotri downstream three days a week and spread awareness, after the completion of first phase but after five months, neither the minister nor her projects have any signs of existence.
The plans were afoot not to let discharge even treated water in ganga since under the pretext of treated water, even untreated waste water got its way into the river. The STP of Jagjeetpur was closed down for the same reason since untreated water was also drained in ganga canal. The industries must recycle the waste water generated by them and use for their own purpose and drain in ganga after treatment. But even after months the ground realities remain the same.
Speaking to The Pioneer, executive engineer RK Jain said, "The complete DPR has been submitted to the centre and third party appraisal by IIT Roorkee has also been done. As soon as the budget is sanctioned by the NMCG, work will start."
It was the industrial waste and sewage which was polluting the river and not the remains of floral waste or worshipping waste which people needed to understand, admitted the minister but the sewage water continues to drain in ganga at many places like Jwalapur, Rishikul, Birla bridge and Nai Sota ghat near Har Ki Pauri.
Keeping in tune with the statement made by Uma, the chief minister of state also states that his government is committed to providing 100 percent clean and pure water to the deities of Haridwar - Chandi devi and Maya Devi. “We are working on a dozen and a half sewage treatment plants and five would be ready soon, ” said Harish Rawat during his recent visit.
However he expressed his incapacity to tap each and every drain of the city due to “wrong urbanization”. The statement by Uma Bharti that 4000 crores spent on cleaning ganga since 1985 and 7000 crores more being spent by NMCG would not be allowed to go waste seems to be a mere waste of words like the money spent.