Chief Minister Harish Rawat has demanded Rs10,000 crore from the Union Government to execute 132 Seweage Treatment Plants and install 36 solid Waste Management plants to ensure pollution-free water in four rivers ie Ganga, Yamuna, Ramganga and Saryu, originating from Uttarakhand.
However, he categorically refused to give credence to the Modi Government’s initiative that stresses on a Cabinet Minister visiting a State in full Ministerial strength to resolve the long-pending issues involving the State. There is nothing new in the initiative with things going on for several years, he said.
During the media briefing, the CM said that the State has sought approval for flood control proposals from the Union Government and asked support for conservation of numerous water bodies located in the State.
Notably, a meeting between the Union Government officials and the State Government was held at the Secretariat in the presence of Union Minister Uma Bharti and the CM on Wednesday.
Proposals on Sewage Treatment, construction of public and private toilets, modern crematoriums and solid waste management involving Rs9,478 crore were presented to the Union Government. An MoU between the Union Government agency WAPCOS limited and the State Government was inked on water conservation, power and infrastructure development project identification as well as planning.
CM Rawat said that there was a need to install low budget sewage treatment plants in the State. Char Dham Yatra route could not be made completely safe unless work was done on flood control. Since Uttarakhand is vulnerable to mercurial climate and natural calamities execution of development works consumes more time than usual. He urged Bharati to approve the State Government's flood control projects at the earliest so that the work could begin immediately.
In her address, Bharti said that the work on Ganga rejuvenation would begin from Uttarakhand. This mission could only be achieved through the joint efforts of the Union and the State governments. Recently, an organisation had been entrusted with the task of testing the waters from Gomukh and at some 15-20 points. The Aviral Dhara (free flow) and Nirmal Dhara (purity of Ganga water) missions must be taken up on PPP model. local urban bodies must also be roped in it.
Praising CM Rawat, Bharti described CM Rawat as a visionary who would get whole-hearted support from the Union Government.
Additional Secretary Saujanya Jawalkar gave a presentation on basin authorisation of River Ganga. She spoke about the tributaries as well as their catchment areas and threw light on the river pollutants, on how the industrial waste is being dumped into river to the long-term detriment of the interests of all.
It is important to have a third level treatment of Common Effluent Treatment Plant at Haridwar SIDCUl, whereas there is a need to establish CETP in Roorkee, Bhagwanpur, landora UPSIDC and Hardwar UPSIDC. The quality of water of river Ganga till laxman Jhula was of A grade, in Rishikesh it was B grade and D grade below Hardwar. The quality of water at Kashipur's Bahela and Dahela river was of E grade. All houses would have to be provided with toilet facilities by December 2014. Sewerage Infrastructure has to be developed too. Out of this, sewage treatment plant had been approved in Muni Ki Reti while it has been proposed at Srinagar, Gopeshwar and Joshimath. River front development plans had to be made for Rishikesh and Hardwar too, the CM said.
Footpaths need to be constructed along the river Ganga for its beautification and it should be connected to eco- tourism. Sewerage system had to be developed in 132 habitats and for that Rs 7,634 crore is needed. The state needs Rs 219 crore for constructing community toilets at 730 places. Modern crematoriums should also be set up to curb pollution in river Ganga and the state needs Rs 52 crore to build 159 crematoriums. Under JNNURM, solid waste management projects were approved in Dehradun, Hardwar and Nainital, while 1,223 bio digesters and mobile toilets have to be constructed. This would cost Rs 122 crore. local urban bodies would have to be trained to curb pollution of river Ganga. This might cost Rs 6 crore. Rs 300 crore is needed for river front development and Rs 256 crore to set up toilets for over 5 lakh families. In total, Rs 9,478 crore will be required, the CM said.
Present at the meeting were State Drinking Water Minister Mantri Prasad Naithani, MlA, Kedarnath, Shailarani Rawat, Chief Secretary Subhash Kumar, Union Secretary Alok Rawat and other senior officials.