Union Water Resources Minister Uma Bharti averred on Thursday that her Ministry was committed to cleaning river Ganga. By 2018, people would see clean and serene Ganga, she said, adding that a rough draft of the Act for Ganga was also ready to be enforced soon.
The Minister assured the gathering of hundreds in Rishikul grounds, wearing white caps bearing Namami Gange logo, that Rs 4,000 crores had been spent on cleaning Ganga since 1985 and Rs 7,000 crores more are being spent by NMCG. The public money being spent on the noble purpose would not be allowed to go waste, the Minister said.
“We would show 100 percent results and fulfil the commitments made to keep the river clean. By allotting a total of Rs 20,000 crores for Namami Gange, the Modi Government was not doing any favour to the river which is lifeline of millions. “Rather, cleaning it is part of the ‘Prayschit’ towards the mother,” said the Minister.
The Minister was here to launch 43 developmental projects related to Namami Gange in a function organised in Rishikul grounds. The programme was attended by the Union Minister of Roads and Transport Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister for Tourism Mahesh Sharma, Chief Minister Harish Rawat and former CM Ramesh Pokhariyal Nishank aside from many other Congress and BJP leaders. Amongst the seers present were Shankaracharya Rajrajeshwarashram and Swami Harichetanand of Udasin Bada Akhara.
Notably, 250 projects have been listed at 100 places worth Rs 15,000 crores across the country, including cleaning of drains, installation of sewage treatment plants, bio-digestor toilets, tree plantation, building of ghats and embankments among others.
Uma Bharti said, “Treated water would not be allowed to be dumped in Ganga any more as has been the practice for a long time on the pretext of treated water. Even untreated waste water was seeing its way into the river.” She said that closing down of STP of Jagjeetpur was on account of the same reason.
She made a categorical statement, saying that the industries will have to recycle the waste water generated by them and use for their own purpose and throw in Ganga after proper treatment.
She said that Ganga was being polluted by the people by throwing ‘puja’ (rituals) waste was a myth. “It was the industrial waste and sewage which was polluting the river and not the remains of floral or other puja waste,” the minister said.
1000 cusecs water for Aviral ganga
Uma Bharti said that the Modi government was committed to the unbridled flow of river Ganga and maintain the 1000 cusecs volume flow in the river as was declared in agreement made by British government and freedom fighter Madan Mohan Malviya in 1912.
Uma touches on the emotional chord of people
‘Nari aur nadi’ (woman and river) both have been struggling for years for their existence, said the minister. Do not insult them. She expressed her desire to undertake pilgrimage (padyatra) along the river Ganga and spread awareness amongst the people not to pollute the holy river. Pointing to Gadkari, she said, “I may be allowed to undertake this pilgrimage from Gangotri down the river after the first phase of Namami Gange is completed in October 2016.
She also questioned the people “Would you allow your ancestors drink polluted waterIJ If not you should refrain from offering the same while performing tarpan in Ganga. The water you are giving to your ancestors is not fit for drinking whether be it at Varanasi or Kanpur or Haridwar.”
“Wherever I go in the Parliament or around Delhi, people greet me. saying Ganga maiya ki jai. I feel proud .”
Rawat demands projects to be linked with Namani Gange
In his address, Chief Minister Harish Rawat appreciated the Union road minister for assuring all weather roads for char dham pilgrimage. He said he had been impressed over the commitment shown by the Union water resources minister Uma Bharti towards cleaning of Ganga and assured all support to the endeavour from the State.
Echoing Uma, Rawat said, “We are committed too to provide 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 are ready which can be started anytime
However, the Minister said that assistance was needed from Namami Gange project to incorporate the project of making canal from Muni ki Reti downstream to the ‘dhar area’ (plain area) of Haridwar bordering laksar villages so that water was released in Ganga after getting in contact with the soil which would act as natural filter. The CM expressed his incapacity to tap each drain of the city due to “wrong urbanisation”.
Rawat also asked for open defecation free project to be executed in all villages of the state and not only 143 earmarked villages by Namami Gange scheme which were located on the banks of Ganga. He said his aim was not just 45% of villages to be open defecation free but all of them should be made so. He also demanded a clear policy involving all the states and the Namami Gange scheme.
Sparsh Ganga project linked with Namami Gange
The Sparsh Ganga project started in 2010 by former CM and BJP leader Ramesh Pokhariyal NIshank was also described as continuation of the Namami Gange project.
A rosy picture of India with cultural diversity and progress was shown through a multimedia presentation shown on large screens installed in the Rishikul grounds.