Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has asked officials to ensure that effluents, both domestic and industrial, are not released in the river Ganga after December 15 and adequate arrangements are made for treating sewage at effluent treatment plants (ETP) before being discharged in the Ganga.
While reviewing progress of the shifting of tanneries in Kanpur in view of Kumbh Mela, the Chief Minister said that officials should ensure construction of ETPs within the stipulated time. “In no way the effluent should be discharged into the river Ganga after December 15. The officials should ensure that pure and clean water reaches Prayag for Kumbh,” Yogi said, adding that for community ETPs, non-conventional energy should be used.
The Chief Minister said in view of Kumbh Mela, importance should be given to the auspicious days like Makar Sankranti, Paush Purnima, Mauni Amawasya, Basant Panchami, Maghi Purnima and Mahashivratri and it should be ensured that devotees get clean water for bathing.
“Help of IIT Kanpur and IIT-BHU, Varanasi should be taken to ensure cleanliness,” he added.
The Chief Minister said that special cleanliness drives should be launched in 1,627 villages situated across the Ganga river and they should be declared ODF.
“Those nullahs (streams) which open directly into the river Ganga should be tapped and if they cannot be tapped, the remediation work should start at the earliest,” Yogi said.
The officials concerned informed the Chief Minister that till date, 99 nullahs had been tapped and remediation work had started in 127 nullahs.
The Principal Secretary (Irrigation) said that on the auspicious dates additional water would be released from Tehri, Bhimgauda, Narora and Kanpur. The Chief Minister was also informed that work had started for renovation of Shahi nullah in Varanasi and over 62 per cent of the work was completed while in Dinapur (in Varanasi) the work was around 90 per cent over.
Forest Minister Dara Singh Chauhan, Chief Secretary Anup Chandra Pandey and Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, SP Goyal, were present in the meeting.