In a major boost to clean up the Ganga, the Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved an additional amount of Rs20,000 crore for the implementation of ‘Namami Gange Programme’ for the next five years. This is a five-fold increase in the money spent for conservation of the river in the last three decades. According to official figures, the Centre has so far incurred a total expenditure of about Rs4,000 crore under Ganga rejuvenation scheme since 1985. Namami Gange will focus on various pollution abatement interventions, viz. interception and diversion and treatment of waste water flowing through open drains via bio-remediation, appropriate in-situ treatment, use of innovative technologies, sewage treatment plants (STPs), besides effluent treatment plant (ETPs).
The programme will be implemented by the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) and the State Programme Management Groups. The Centre is also planning a four-battalion Ganga Eco-Task Force, a Territorial Army to enforce the legislation and check pollution. The implementation of the programme will also involve people living on the banks of the river for sustainable results. It will also focus on involving the states and grassroots level institutions such as urban local bodies and panchayati raj institutions in implementation, said the sources.
A three-tier mechanism has been proposed for monitoring projects for its better implementation, which comprises a high-level task force chaired by the Cabinet Secretary and assisted by NMCG at the national level, State-level committees chaired by Chief Secretary and assisted by SPMG and district-level committees chaired by the District Magistrate.
The programe will initially rehabilitate and augment the existing Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) and activate other immediate short-term measures for arresting pollution at exit points on river front to prevent inflow of sewage. The programme envisages several socio-economic advantages including job creation, and health benefits to the vast population that is dependent on the river..
Keeping in mind the unsatisfactory results of the earlier Ganga Action Plans, the Centre plans to provide for operation and maintenance of the assets for at least a period of 10-years and adopt a PPP/SPV approach for pollution hotspots, said the sources. This flagship programme also stresses on improved coordination mechanisms between the various ministries and agencies of the central and state governments.