In a bid to review the progress of Ganga project, Chief Minister Harish Rawat convened a meeting with the Uttarakhand State Ganga River Authority in Dehradun on Wednesday. During the meeting, he categorically asked them to make sure water is treated before being drained into the water body. “You also make a plan to ensure that the canal system is adequately strengthened,” the CM said.
He also instructed the chief secretary to make a policy for water bonus and firm up the State’s own water policy. During the meeting, the CM expressed displeasure on the issue of detailed project report (DPR). Funds had been granted to prepare the DPR to Drinking Water (Peyjal), Tourism Development Board and Urban Development Departments, but DPR is yet to be prepared. He said the working culture must improve.
CM further said that plans to be initiated effectively at the Central level for approval, already forwarded to Government of India under the Namami Gange Proposal, must incorporate the local needs, including special drainage plan to be prepared for Rishikesh and Haridwar. This is an imperative in view of the upcoming Ardh kumbh Mela slated in January 2016.
THe CM directed the CS to approve Rs4 crore for the Triveni ghat sewerage plan. Proposals must be sent for whatever fund is required for the Ardh Kumbh, CM directed the officials to ready proposals according to the standards of Namami Gange and Swachch Bharat of Government of India on a priority basis. DPR of River Front Development Plan in Rishikesh should be prepared again taking the irrigation department on board. Among other things CM stressed was to have the level of water pollution reduced. Bio-remedies technique can be implemented as a model, he said. Under this technique, water of drains and big sewer is purified naturally.
CM instructed the managing director SIDCUl to conduct the cleansing campaign in Kashipur, Haridwar and in other SIDCUl areas. To push up things, plans are to be readied in co-coordination with the entrepreneurs operating in SIDCUl. He stressed on organising competitions on the issue among the children Urban development minister Pritam Singh Pawar, chief secretary N Ravishanker, additional chief secretary S Raju, principal secretary Forest Ranveer Singh, secretary Tourism Umakant Panwar, MD SIDCUl R Rajesh Kumar and additional secretary Drinking Water Saujanya were among those present on the occasion.