To ensure that the rivers across Uttar Pradesh remain pollution-free, the Central government, under National Mission for Clean Ganga Project, has approved eight new projects, including sewerage management, in the state.
“Under this, 80 drains will be tapped in Varanasi besides construction of sewage treatment plants (STPs) in Vrindavan and at Kosi Kalan in Mathura. A major project of setting up of biodiversity parks in four districts -- Hapur, Bulandshahr, Budaun and Mirzapur -- has also been approved,” a government spokesman said here on Friday.
In the 45th meeting of the executive committee of the National Mission for Clean Ganga, four projects have been approved for sewage management, including one in Varanasi. The project also includes construction of 55 MLD capacity STP for tapping Assi Nullah. The total estimated cost of this project is Rs 308.09 crore.
“The project of Varanasi aims to achieve the target of zero untreated discharge from three drains -- Assi, Samne Ghat and Nakhi,” the government spokesman said.
Other projects include construction of 13 MLD STP and renovation of existing structures. This includes construction of 12 MLD STP at Vrindavan at a cost of Rs 77.70 crore and laying of interception and diversion network.
These projects of Mathura-Vrindavan are envisaged to intercept and divert 11 drains which pollute the river Yamuna.
A big project of setting up of four biodiversity parks in four districts of Hapur, Bulandshahr, Budaun and Mirzapur has also been approved, with an estimated cost of Rs 24.97 crore. Their names are Mohanpur Biodiversity Park in Mirzapur, Ramghat Biodiversity Park in Bulandshahr, Alamgirpur Biodiversity Park in Hapur and Ujhani Biodiversity Park in Budaun.
All these four places are situated on the flood plains of the river Ganga. The proposed parks are part of the reserve forests along the flood plains of the Ganges and will play an important role in river rejuvenation and biodiversity conservation, the spokesman said.
“Biodiversity parks will provide unique landscapes to the forest with a combination of native plant and animal species, creating self-sustaining biological communities maintained in an area. The overall outcome of the Ganga Biodiversity Parks will help in maintaining ecosystem services, biodiversity and rejuvenation of the river Ganga at basin scale,” he said.